🔥 Free Checklist

What to Bring Your Tax Preparer

Check off items as you gather them. Print or save as PDF and bring to your appointment. Items are organized by what every Eaton Fire taxpayer needs, plus additional items by lane.

Everyone Documents Every Eaton Fire Taxpayer Needs 0 / 0

2024 federal and California tax returnsYour preparer needs to see prior-year basis information and carryforwards.

Original purchase documents for the homeHUD-1 or closing disclosure from original purchase — shows purchase price, closing costs that add to basis, and loan amounts.

All insurance correspondence and settlement documentsPolicy declarations, claims submissions, and all check/wire documentation with breakdowns by coverage type (dwelling, contents, ALE, etc.).

Insurance proceeds breakdown by categorySeparate totals for dwelling, contents, additional living expenses, and any other categories. Character matters — not just the total.

Edison claim documentation and any settlement communicationsAny correspondence from Edison or your attorney about claim status and expected timeline.

W-2s, 1099s, and all other income documents for 2025

Records of all additional living expenses (ALE) paid out of pocketReceipts for hotel, rent, food differential above normal — these interact with insurance ALE reimbursements.

Any prior appraisals of the destroyed propertyHelpful for establishing pre-fire FMV. HELOC or refi appraisals count if recent.

All Homeowners Basis Documentation 0 / 0

Your adjusted basis determines whether you have a gain or a loss. Every homeowner needs these.

List of all capital improvements with costs and yearsAdditions, remodels, new roof, pool, solar, HVAC replacement, ADU, significant landscaping. Not repairs. Estimated costs are acceptable if receipts are unavailable — but document how you arrived at the estimate.

Permits or contractor invoices for major improvementsBuilding permits and contractor checks/invoices are the best documentation. Bank statements and canceled checks are a secondary option.

Property tax bills from recent yearsShows assessed value and any supplemental assessments that may indicate improvement basis — also useful for FMV analysis.

Any refinance or HELOC appraisalsCan help establish pre-fire FMV for FMV analysis, which may affect casualty loss calculations.

Prior casualty loss claims if any have been filedPrior claimed losses reduce your current adjusted basis. If you previously claimed a disaster loss, bring those returns.

Any rental periods with depreciation claimedIf the property was ever rented, depreciation claimed reduces basis. Bring Schedule E from those years.

Lane 1 & 3 Gain Clients — Long-Term Owners 0 / 0

If your insurance proceeds exceeded your adjusted basis, these items matter.

Replacement property search — any activity or decisions to dateThe §1033 election requires reinvestment. Documenting your intent to reinvest strengthens the election. Any real estate agent correspondence, offers, or purchase agreements are valuable.

Draft §1033 election statement (or confirm your preparer is drafting one)This letter must be attached to the first filed return that includes the conversion event. Use our template as a starting point.

Written record of reinvestment tracking log startedTrack dates and amounts spent on replacement property from the moment insurance proceeds arrive.

Any communications from your attorney regarding Edison settlement structureIf your attorney has discussed settlement allocation (property damage vs. injury vs. emotional distress), bring that. This affects whether Edison payments create additional gain above the §121 cap.

Lane 2 Underinsured Owners — Real Loss 0 / 0

Detailed calculation of the casualty lossLesser of: adjusted basis or FMV decline, reduced by insurance received. Your preparer will run this — but bring your basis documentation and any pre-fire appraisals.

Documentation supporting the "reasonable prospect of recovery" analysisIf filing the loss in 2025, the claimed amount should represent the portion not expected to be recovered from Edison. Your attorney's assessment of likely Edison recovery range is valuable here.

Attorney's letter or correspondence re: Edison claim status and likely outcomeThis helps your preparer evaluate whether a full loss claim or an open transaction disclosure is the stronger position.

Cash flow needs assessment — how urgently is the refund needed?The refund vs. wait decision is a cash flow question as much as a tax question. Come prepared to discuss whether you need the money now.

Lane 4 Smoke/Partial Damage — Home Still Standing 0 / 0

Pre-fire and post-fire comparable property salesCasualty loss for smoke damage is calculated on FMV decline — you need evidence of before/after FMV. Zillow comps, Redfin, or a broker opinion of value will work.

Any formal appraisal or inspection report documenting damageAn inspector or appraiser opinion of value decline is stronger documentation than estimates.

Insurance remediation paid breakdownThe insurance remediation amount reduces your net casualty loss. Bring the check and any scope of work documents.

Out-of-pocket remediation and repair expensesAmounts you spent on cleanup, air quality testing, temporary repairs before insurance paid — may be deductible or add to loss documentation.

Lane 5 Renters 0 / 0

Personal property inventory with estimated valuesEven though TCJA eliminated the deduction, your documented loss is the baseline for confirming contents insurance was below basis. See our personal property documentation guide.

Medical records documenting physical injury from the fireHospital visits, urgent care, respiratory treatment, prescribed medications — any documentation of physical harm. This is worth up to $13,320 in tax savings on the emotional distress allocation.

Doctor's letters or ongoing treatment records for smoke inhalationIf you've had respiratory issues since the fire, document them now before the Edison settlement is structured.

Correspondence with Edison about settlement breakdownIf any settlement discussions have started, the allocation of property / injury / emotional distress / interest matters enormously. Do not sign without understanding the tax treatment of each component.

All Homeowners Personal Property / Contents 0 / 0

While TCJA eliminated the personal casualty deduction, your contents basis affects insurance recovery taxability and your Edison settlement allocation.

Home inventory (photo, video, or written) from before the fireAny room-by-room photos, videos, or written logs created before the fire. Cloud backups, social media posts showing rooms, even real estate listing photos can help.

Major purchase receipts for furniture, electronics, jewelry, artCredit card statements, email receipts, bank statements — anything establishing the original cost of significant items.

Contents insurance claim breakdownItemized list from your insurer of what was claimed and paid. This establishes the relationship between claimed value and actual basis.

Appraisals for high-value items (jewelry, art, collectibles, wine)Formal appraisals for any items with insurance riders or separate scheduled values.

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