So far in 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued 12 major disaster declarations in nine states impacted by winter storms, flooding, tornadoes, wildfires, landslides and mudslides. With tax season over and peak periods for disasters approaching, now is a good time to think about protecting important tax and financial information as part of your disaster emergency plan.
Protect and make copies of important documents
Original documents such as tax returns, Social Security cards, marriage certificates, birth certificates and land ownership documents need to be secured in a waterproof container in a safe space. You should also make copies of these important documents and store them in a secondary location such as a safe deposit box or with a trusted person who lives in a different area. In addition, scanned documents can be stored on a flash drive for easy portability.
Keep a record of valuables
Use your cell phone to make a record of high-value items. A simple list with current photos or videos can help support claims for insurance or tax benefits after a disaster.
Rebuilding records
If the worst happens, and you are affected by a disaster, you may have to Reconstruct or replace records for purposes of filing taxes, claiming federal assistance, or claiming insurance reimbursement. Accurate loss estimates could mean that more loan and grant money may be available.
IRS assistance after a disaster
After FEMA issues a major disaster or emergency measures declaration, the IRS may postpone certain tax filing and payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in certain counties affected by the disaster. Taxpayers in the affected areas do not need to call to request this relief. The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief.