Internal Revenue Service
Revenue Ruling

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 Rev. Rul. 2000-15, 2000-12 IRB

IRC Sec(s). 165

Losses – disaster losses.

Headnote:

For purposes of Code Sec. 165(i) , which allows affected taxpayers to elect to deduct loss in year immediately preceding tax year in which disaster occurred, IRS published list of presidentially-declared disasters areas in 1999.

Full Text:

Under section 165(i) of the Internal Revenue Code, if a taxpayer suffers a loss attributable to a disaster occurring in an area subsequently determined by the President of the United States to warrant assistance by the Federal Government under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 5121-5204c (1988 & Supp. V 1993) (the Act), the taxpayer may elect to claim a deduction for that loss on the taxpayer's federal income tax return for the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which the disaster occurred. For purposes of section 165(i), a disaster includes an event declared a major disaster or an emergency under the Act.

Section 1.165-11(e) of the Income Tax Regulations provides that the election to deduct a disaster loss for the preceding year must be made by filing a return, an amended return, or a claim for refund on or before the later of

(1) the due date of the taxpayer's income tax return (determined without regard to any extension of time to file the return) for the taxable year in which the disaster actually occurred, or

(2) the due date of the taxpayer's income tax return (determined with regard to any extension of time to file the return) for the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which the disaster actually occurred.

The provisions of section 165(i) apply only to losses that are otherwise deductible under section 165(a). An individual taxpayer may deduct losses if they are incurred in a trade or business, if they are incurred in a transaction entered into for profit, or if they are casualty losses under section 165(c)(3).

The President has determined that during 1999 the areas listed below have been adversely affected by disasters of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant assistance by the Federal Government under the Act.

Drafting Information

The principal author of this revenue ruling is Timothy Sheppard of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). For further information regarding this revenue ruling, contact Robert M. Casey on (202) 622-4960 (not a toll-free call).

DISASTER AREAS                       TYPE OF             DATE OF
IN 1999                              DISASTER            DISASTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona
  County of Maricopa                 Severe storms,     September 14-
                                     flooding, and       23
                                     high winds
Arkansas
  Counties of Bradley, Chicot,       Severe storms,     January 21-31
  Clay, Columbia, Drew, Faulkner,    tornadoes,
  Grant, Greene, Hempstead,          and high winds
  Independence, Jackson,
  Jefferson, Lafayette, Lonoke,
  Miller, Monroe, Poinsett,
  Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis,
  Saline, and White; and City of
  Beebe in White County
California
  Counties of Butte, Humboldt,       Severe fires       August 24-
  Napa, Plumas, San Bernardino,                          November 29
  Shasta, Tehama, Trinity,                              
  Tuolome, and Yuba                  
Colorado
  Counties of Bent, Crowley,         Severe storms,     April 29-May
  Custer, Elbert, El Paso,           flooding,           19
  Fremont, Kiowa, Larimer, Las       landslides,
  Animas, Otero, Pueblo, and Weld    and mudslides
                                    
Connecticut                          
  Counties of Fairfield,             High winds,        September 16-
  Litchfield, and Hartford           heavy rain and      21
                                     flooding assoc-
                                     iated with
                                     Tropical Storm
                                     Floyd
Delaware
  County of New Castle               Hurricane           September 15-
                                     Floyd                17
Florida
  Counties of Alachua, Baker, Bay,   Fire hazards        April 15-May
  Bradford, Brevard, Broward,                              25
  Calhoun, Charlotte, Clay,
  Collier, Columbia, Dade, De
  Soto, Duval, Franklin, Gadsden,
  Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf,
  Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry,
  Highlands, Hillsbrough, Holms,
  Indian River, Jackson,
  Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Levy,
  Liberty, Manatee, Marion,
  Martin, Monroe, Nassau,
  Okeechobee Orange, Osceola, Palm
  Beach Pinellas, Polk, Putnam,
  Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie,
  Swannee, Union, Wakulla, Walton,
  and Washington
  Counties of Brevard, Duval,        Hurricane           September 13-
  Flagler, Glades, Highlands,        Floyd                25
  Indian River, Martin, Nassau,
  Palm Beach, St. Johns, St.
  Lucie, and Volusia.
  Counties of Broward and Dade       Hurricane          September 14-
                                     Floyd               16
  Counties of Brevard, Broward,      Hurricane          October 14-24
  Collier, Dade, Flagler, Glades,    Irene
  Hendry, Highlands, Indian River,
  Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee,
  Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach,
  Polk, St. Lucie, Seminole, and
  Volusia
  Counties of Charlotte, De Soto,    Hurricane          October 14-19
  Hardee, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee,   Irene
  Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and
  Sarasota
Georgia
  Counties of Candler and Dooly      Severe storms      April 15
                                     and tornadoes
  Counties of Bryan, Camden,         Hurricane          September 14-
  Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, and       Floyd               17
  McIntosh
Illinois
  Counties of Adams, Brown,          Record/near        January 1-15
  Bureau, Calhoun, Cass,             record snow
  Champaign, Christian, Cook,
  DeWitt, Douglas, DuPage, Ford,
  Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock,
  Henderson, Henry, Iroquois,
  Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox,
  Lake, La Salle, Livingston,
  Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason,
  McDonough, McHenry, McLean,
  Mercer, Menard, Morgan,
  Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike,
  Putnam, Sangamon, Schuyler,
  Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell,
  Vermillion, Warren, Will, and
  Woodford
  County of Jo Daviess               Severe storms      May 16-17
                                     and flash
                                     flooding
Indiana
  Counties of Adams, Allen,          Record/near        January 1-15
  Benton, Blackford, Boone,          record snow
  Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton,
  DeKalb, Delaware, Elkhart,
  Fayette, Fountain, Fulton,
  Grant, Hamilton, Hancock,
  Hendricks, Henry, Howard,
  Huntington, Jasper, Jay,
  Johnson, Kosciusko, Lake,
  Lagrange, LaPorte, Madison,
  Marion, Marshall, Miami,
  Montgomery, Morgan, Newton,
  Noble, Parke, Porter,
  Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph,
  Rush, St. Joseph, Shelby,
  Starke, Steuben, Tipton,
  Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo,
  Wabash, Warren, Wayne,
  Wells, White, and Whitley
Iowa
  Counties of Black Hawk, Bremer,    Severe storms,     May 16-29
  Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw,       flooding, and
  Clayton, Clinton, Crawford,        tornadoes
  Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette,
  Harrison, Jones, Linn,
  Montgomery, and Scott
  Counties of Black Hawk, Bremer,    Severe storms      July 2-August
  Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo,     and flooding        10
  Chickasaw, Clayton, Crawford,
  Fayette, Floyd, Harrison,
  Howard, Jones, Linn, Mills,
  Mitchell,  Montgomery,
  Pottawattamie, Story, Woodbury,
  and Worth
Kansas
  Counties of Reno, Sedgwick, and    Severe storms      May 3-6
  Sumner                             and tornadoes
Louisiana
  Parishes of Bossier, Caddo,        Severe storms,     April 3-7
  Claiborne, De Soto, and Webster    tornadoes,
                                     and flooding
Maine
  Counties of Androscoggin,           Hurricane         September 16-
  Cumberland, Kennebec, Oxford,       Floyd              19
  and Somerset
Maryland
  Counties of Anne Arundel,           Hurricane         September 16-
  Calvert, Caroline, Cecil,           Floyd              20
  Charles, Harford, Kent, Queen
  Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's,
  and Talbot
Massachusetts
  County of Worcester                 Fire              December 3-13
Michigan
  Counties of Alcona,                 Near record       January 2-15
  Allegan, Arenac, Barry,             snow
  Berrien, Cass, Crawford,
  Ionia, Iosco, Jackson,
  Kalamazoo, Kent, Lawrence,
  Lenawee, Macomb, Marquette,
  Mecosta, Monroe, Montmorency,
  Muskegeon, Newaygo, Oakland,
  Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola,
  Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa,
  St. Joseph, Van Buren,
  Washtenaw, and Wayne
Minnesota
  Counties of Kittston, Marshall,     Severe ice        March 1-May 30
  Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and     storms, flooding
  Roseau                              and heavy rains
  Counties of Aitkin, Beltrami,       Severe storms,    July 4-August
  Cass, Clay, Cook, Hubbard,          winds, and         2
  Itasca, Lake, and St. Louis         flooding
Missouri
  Counties of Andrew, Cole, Iron,    Severe storms      April 3-14
  Macon, Madison, and Osage          and flooding
Nebraska
  Counties of Burt, Douglas, and     Severe storms      August 6-9
  Washington                         and flooding
Nevada
  County of Clark                    Severe storms      July 8-16
                                     and flash
                                     flooding
New Hampshire
  Counties of Belknap, Cheshire,     Tropical Storm     September 16-
  and Grafton                        Floyd               18
New Jersey
  Counties of Atlantic, Bergen,      Hurricane          September 16-
  Burlington, Camden, Cape May,      Floyd               18
  Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester,
  Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer,
  Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris,
  Ocean, Passaic, Salem,
  Somerset, Sussex, Union, and
  Warren
New Mexico
  Counties of Dona Ana, Luna,        Severe storms      July 16-August
  Mora, Rio Arriba, San Juan,        and flooding        7
  Sandoval, and Sierra; and the
  Mescalero Apache Reservation
New York
  Counties of Cattaraugus,           Near record        January 1-15
  Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee,         snow
  Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara,
  Orleans, St. Lawrence, and
  Wyoming
  Counties of Livingston, Monroe,    Near record        March 3-6
  Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, and       snow
  Wyoming                            
  Counties of Albany, Dutchess,      Hurricane          September 16-
  Essex, Greene, Nassau, Orange,     Floyd               18
  Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland,
  Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk,
  Ulster, Warren, and Westchester
North Carolina
  Counties of Beaufort, Brunswick,   Hurricane          August 29-
  Carteret, Craven, Currituck,       Dennis             September 11
  Dare, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow,
  Pamlico, and Pender
  Counties of Alamance, Anson,       Hurricane          September 15-
  Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen,          Floyd              November 2
  Brunswick, Camden, Carteret,
  Caswell, Chatham,  Chowan,
  Columbus, Craven, Cumberland,
  Currituck, Dare, Davidson,
  Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe,
  Forsyth, Franklin, Gates,
  Granville, Greene, Guilford,
  Halifax, Harnett, Hertford,
  Hoke, Hyde, Johnston,
  Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin,
  Montgomery, Moore, Nash,
  New Hanover, Northampton,
  Northampton, Onslow, Orange,
  Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender,
  Perquimans, Person, Pitt,
  Randolph, Richmond, Robeson,
  Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson,
  Scotland, Stanly, Stokes,
  Tyrrell, Union, Vance, Wake,
  Warren, Washington, Wayne, and
  Wilson
North Dakota
  Counties of Barnes, Benson,        Severe storms,     March 1-July
  Bottineau, Burke, Burleigh,        flooding, snow      19
  Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide,    and ice, ground
  Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Grand        saturation,
  Forks, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure,    landslides,
  Logan, McHenry, McIntosh,          mudslides,
  McLean, Mercer, Morton,            and tornadoes
  Mountrail, Nelson, Pembina,
  Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom,
  Renville, Richland, Rolette,
  Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux,
  Steele, Stutsman, Towner,
  Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, and
  Williams; and the Indian
  Reservations of the Spirit Lake
  Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Soiux
  (that portion of the reservation
  that lies within the State of
  North Dakota), Three Affiliated
  Tribes, and Turtle Mountain Band
  of Chippewa
Oklahoma
  Counties of Caddo, Canadian,       Tornadoes and      May 3-5
  Cleveland, Craig, Creek, Grady,    severe storms
  Kingfisher, Latimer, Le Flore,
  Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Noble,
  Oklahoma, Okmulgee. Ottawa,
  Payne, Pottawatomie, and Tulsa
Pennsylvania
  Counties of Juniata and McKean     Severe storms      August 20-21
                                     and flooding
  Counties of Dauphin, Lycoming,     Severe flash       September 6-7
  Northumberland, Snyder, and        flooding
  Union                              associated
                                     with Tropical
                                     Depression
                                     Dennis
  Counties of Berks, Bucks,          Hurricane          September 16-
  Chester, Delaware, Lancaster,      Floyd               29
  Montgomery, Philadelphia, and
  York
Puerto Rico
  All 78 municipalities              Hurricane          November 17-20
                                     Lenny
South Carolina
  Counties Allendale, Bamberg,       Hurricane          September 14-
  Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley,      Floyd               30
  Calhoun, Charleston,
  Chesterfield, Clarendon,
  Colleton, Darlington, Dillon,
  Dorchester, Florence,
  Georgetown, Hampton, Horry,
  Jasper, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington,
  Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg,
  Richland, Sumter, and
  Williamsburg
South Dakota
  County of Shannon and the Pine     Severe storms,     June 4-18
  Ridge Indian Reservation           tornadoes, and
                                     and flooding
Tennessee
  Counties of Benton, Carroll,       Severe storms,     January 17-
  Crockett, Decatur, Dickson,        tornadoes, and     February 1
  Fayette, Franklin, Giles,          high winds
  Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson,
  Houston, Humphreys, Jackson,
  Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis,
  Madison, Maury, Montgomery,
  Perry, Stewart, Warren, and
  Wayne

  Counties of Cheatham, Chester,     Severe storms,     May 5-19
  Davidson, Decatur, Dickson,        tornadoes,
  Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson,       and flooding
  Hickman, Houston, Humphreys,
  Lawrence, McNairy, Perry,
  Stewart, Sumner, White, and
  Williamson
Texas
  Counties of Bowie, Gregg, Red      Severe storms      May 4
  River, and Titus                   and tornadoes
  Counties of Anderson, Andrews,     Extreme fire       August 1-
  Angelina, Archer, Armstrong,       hazards            December 10
  Austin, Bailey, Bandera,
  Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bexar,
  Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Bowie,
  Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster,
  Briscoe, Brown, Burleson,
  Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun,
  Callahan, Camp, Carson, Cass,
  Castro, Chambers, Cherokee,
  Childress, Clay, Cochran, Coke,
  Coleman, Collin, Collingsworth,
  Colorado, Comal, Comanche,
  Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle,
  Crane, Crockett, Crosby,
  Culberson, Dallam, Dallas,
  Dawson, Deaf Smith, Delta,
  Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Donley,
  Eastland, Ector, Edwards, El
  Paso, Ellis, Erath, Falls,
  Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd,
  Foard, Fort Bend, Franklin,
  Freestone, Gaines, Galveston,
  Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock,
  Gonzales, Gray, Grayson,
  Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe,
  Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford,
  Hardeman, Hardin, Harris,
  Harrison, Hartley, Haskell,
  Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hill,
  Hockley, Hood, Hopkins, Houston,
  Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt,
  Hutchinson, Irion, Jack,
  Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis,
  Jefferson, Johnson, Jones,
  Kaufman, Kendall, Kent, Kerr,
  Kimble, King, Kinney, Knox,
  Lamar, Lamb, Lampasas, Lavaca,
  Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone,
  Lipscomb, Llano, Loving,
  Lubbock, Lynn, Madison, Marion,
  Martin, Mason, Matagorda,
  McCulloch, McLennan, Medina,
  Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills,
  Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery,
  Moore, Morris, Motley,
  Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton,
  Nolan, Ochiltree, Oldham,
  Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola,
  Parker, Parmer, Pecos, Polk,
  Potter, Presidio, Rains,
  Randall, Reagan, Real, Red
  River, Reeves, Roberts,
  Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels,
  Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San
  Jacinto, San Saba, Schleicher,
  Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby,
  Sherman, Smith, Somerveil,
  Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall,
  Sutton, Swisher, Tarrant,
  Taylor, Terrell, Terry,
  Throckmorton, Titus, Tom Green,
  Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur,
  Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van
  Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller,
  Ward, Washington, Wharton,
  Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger,
  Williamson, Wilson, Winkler,
  Wise, Wood, Yoakum, and
  Young
  Counties of Aransas, Brooks,       Severe storms      August 21-26
  Cameron, Duval, Hidalgo,           and flooding
  Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy,       caused by
  Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio,     Hurricane Bret
  Webb, and Wallacy
U.S. Virgin Islands
  The U.S. Virgin Islands           Hurricane           November 16-20
                                    Lenny
Utah
  County of Salt Lake                Tornado,           August 11
                                     severe
                                     thunderstorms
                                     and hail
Vermont
  Counties of Bennington,            Severe storms      September 16-
  Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille,        and flooding        21
  Orange, Orleans, Rutland,          associated
  Washington, Windham, and Windsor   with
                                     Hurricane
                                     Floyd
Virginia
  City of Hampton                    Tropical           August 27-
                                     Storm Dennis       September 13
  Counties of Accomack, Brunswick,   Hurricane          September 13-
  Caroline, Charles City,            Floyd               26
  Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Essex,
  Fairfax, Gloucester, Greenville,
  Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Isle
  of Wight, James City, King and
  Queen, King George, King
  William, Lancaster, Lunenberg,
  Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex,
  New Kent, Northampton,
  Northumberland, Prince George,
  Richmond, Southampton, Surry,
  Sussex, Westmoreland, and York,
  and Cities of Chesapeake City,
  Colonial Heights, Emporia,
  Franklin, Hampton, Hopewell,
  Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg,
  Poquoson, Portsmouth, Richmond,
  Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and
  Williamsburg
Wisconsin
  Counties of Ashland, Bayfield,     Severe storms      July 4-31
  Douglas, Florence, Iron, Oneida,   straight-line
  Price, Rusk, Sawyer, and Vilas     winds, and
                                     flooding