8/25/2021
Reconstructing records after a natural disaster can be essential for tax purposes, applying for federal assistance or submitting insurance claims.
Here are some steps to help you reconstruct your important records:
Tax Records
Get tax return transcripts for free using the Get Transcript page on the IRS website or order them by calling the IRS at 800-908-9946.
Financial Records
Gather previous statements from your banks and credit card companies to prove income or if you bought items using credit or debit cards. They may be available online, or you can contact your financial institutions to get paper copies.
Property Records
If you're a homeowner, contact the title company, escrow company or bank that handled the purchase of your home or other property to get related documents. Real estate brokers may also be able to help.
If you made home improvements, get in touch with the contractors who did the work and ask for statements verifying the work and cost. You can also get written descriptions from friends and relatives who saw the house before and after any improvements. If you have a home improvement loan, get paperwork from the institution that issued it to help establish the cost of the improvements.
Check court records for the probate values of any inherited property. If a trust or estate existed, contact the attorney who handled it.
Check the county assessor's office for old records that might show the value of the property if no other records are available.
If you own a car, you can research the current fair-market value using resources online or at libraries, including Kelley's Blue Book, the National Automobile Dealers Association, and Edmunds, or call the dealer where the car was purchased and ask for a copy of the contract; if it's not available, give them all the facts and details and ask for a comparable price figure. If you're making payments on the car, contact the lien holder.
Resources: Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts Publication 584, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook
Publication 584-B, Business Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook Publication 976, Disaster Relief Small Business Administration DisasterAssistance.gov