Flood Help in Nashville

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2011-03-21T11:19:00.001-05:00

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New IRS information

2011-03-21T11:17:00.003-05:00

The IRS has issued a reminder to flood victims about tax filing. The text is below:

IRS Alerts Flood Victims to April 18 Filing Deadline
AL/TN-2011-16, March 18, 2011

NASHVILLE – The Internal Revenue Service today reminded Tennesseans that those affected by the 2010 floods and storms who want to seek tax relief using their 2009 federal income tax return must file or amend their 2009 return no later than April 18, 2011. There is no filing extension available for those exercising this option.

Affected taxpayers in any of the 46 Tennessee counties declared federal disaster areas after the May 2010 floods and storms generally have the option of claiming a casualty loss on their 2009 or 2010 federal income tax return. Only those in the federally-declared counties have this option.

“The casualty loss rules for 2009 differ from those for 2010, so filers must decide which rules are the most beneficial for their own situation,” Boone said. "Those who want to use their 2009 return to claim a casualty loss that occurred in 2010 must file or amend that return by April 18, 2011."

According to Boone, many flood or storm victims may benefit from claiming a casualty loss with the IRS, especially those who did not have insurance.

Taxpayers who were casualty/disaster victims in 2010 should consider all these tax benefits:

1. Affected taxpayers in a Presidentially-declared county are generally eligible to:
File or amend their 2009 federal tax return by April 18, 2011, to claim 2010 casualty losses.
Get expedited copies of prior year tax returns and have the fees waived.
2. Storm or flood victims who replaced heating and air systems, windows, doors, insulation or other items related to energy efficiency should check to see if they are eligible for the Residential Energy Credit. The credit is a maximum of $1500 for 2009 and 2010 expenditures combined. To determine which items qualify for the tax credit, visit www.energystar.gov .
3. To receive expedited service from the IRS, flood or storm victims must put the disaster designation, "Tennessee/Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds and Tornadoes," at the top of any tax return or correspondence sent to the IRS.
4. Forms and publications are available at www.IRS.gov for calculating disaster losses and seeking tax breaks. Visit the "Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses " page.
5. Taxpayers with questions about casualty losses can call the IRS Disaster Assistance hotline toll-free at 1-866-562-5227.
Taxpayers can also visit the Legal Aid Society website, www.las.org , to read a booklet entitled, "2010 Tax Guide for Flood Victims," or to watch a video about gathering documents needed for filing a casualty loss claim. The Legal Aid Society is not connected with the Internal Revenue Service, but both LAS and IRS have partnered with organizations and agencies to help flood victims.

Free Tax Preparation for Flood Victims

2010-12-13T10:59:00.000-06:00

Flood victims can take advantage of several provisions designed to lessen the damage they've suffered. However, preparing tax returns that include such losses can be extremely complex. Nashville area flood victims can take advantage of free tax preparation services by dialing 211 to be connected the the United Way's helpline and asking to for tax preparation help.

Sales Tax Refund Deadline May Be Extended

2010-10-11T09:25:00.000-05:00

September 30 was the deadline to purchase certain appliances and rebuilding supplies and still be eligible for a sales tax refund. However, the deadline to get a refund may be extended if new legislation passes in January. So, continue to hold onto your receipts. For more about the sales tax refund and other tax-related information, click here.

Tax Relief Meetings

2010-09-20T17:15:00.000-05:00

A series of public meetings have been scheduled to help flood victims learn about reporting flood losses to the IRS. Click here for more information.

Possible Buyouts for Franklin Homeowners

2010-09-20T17:13:00.001-05:00

The City of Franklin is taking part in a federally-assisted buyout of certain flooded homes. An informational meeting will be held at Franklin City Hall on September 22, 2010 at 6pm. Interested homeowners will likely have until October 25 to sign up with the city. Click here for more info.

North Nashville Flood Recovery

2010-09-20T08:28:00.000-05:00

Teams of volunteers will be in the North Nashville area from September 20 through October 2. Called "Greenshirts," you can recognize them by their green clothing with the "CRWRC" labelling. They will be canvassing the North Nashville area and holding open hours at a walk-in clinic at 3514 West Hamilton Avenue from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday-Friday and from 9:30 to 1:30 p.m. for the next two Saturdays. They are seeking to determine what the residents of North Nashville need to help them recover. More information is here.

Free Help Restoring Damaged Photos

2010-09-09T10:25:00.002-05:00

On September 10 and 11, a volunteer group of professionals will help flood victims restore damaged photos at the United Ministries office on Belmont Blvd. Each person may bring up to 20 images, which will be digitally copied, restored (if possible), and mailed back to the owner. More information here.

Deadline for Property Tax Relief Fast Approaching

2010-08-31T16:44:00.003-05:00

The deadline to apply for flood-related Davidson County propery tax relief is Wednesday, September 1. To date, only about one-sixth of eligible persons have applied. Click here for more info on the tax relief available.

FEMA Help Centers Closing/Moving

2010-07-16T17:43:00.002-05:00

Please note that the Disaster Recovery Centers that are still open will be moving and transitioning into roles as SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers. Click here to read FEMA's press release and view the locations.

New Metro Program - "We are Home"

2010-06-30T10:00:00.003-05:00

Metro Nashville has announced new Flood Rebuilding Program. The program is called "We are Home" and is being administered by a non-profit called The Home Fund. It provides loans and grants, based on need. This program is separate from FEMA, but you must have applied for FEMA aid in order to qualify. If you are interested in learning more, call 615-862-6523. If no one answers, leave a message.

Update on Flood Buyout

2010-06-22T15:25:00.004-05:00

If you are eligible for the buyout, you should receive a letter in the mail. At this time, only 305 properties in the Nashville area are eligible. Initial letters were mailed today. Read more here.

Click here for a map of the buyout area. Note that the buyout area is generally in the Berry Hill, Oak Hill, Forrest Hills, and Belle Meade area. This map is searchable by address.

Habitat For Humanity Offers Help for Rebuilding/Repair

2010-06-16T15:54:00.003-05:00

Updated 6/30/10

Habitat for Humanity is offering two Flood Recovery Programs for residents of Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, and Hickman Counties.

1. Those who own a home can get help rebuilding or repairing. Volunteers will help perform repairs, and owners can get zero-interest loans to finance the cost of materials--up to $40,000.
Income restrictions apply. (For a family of four, income must not exceed $58,608.)

2. Those who lost a home can apply to purchase a new Habitat home. Income restrictions apply (For a family of four, income must not exceed $52,150.)

For more information about the two programs, click here.

Sales and Property Tax Relief for Flood Victims

2010-06-15T08:42:00.008-05:00

Updated 10/13/10

Direct Sales Tax Refund
If you received Federal aid, you can apply for a refund of Tennessee sales tax that you paid for the items that you have purchased to rebuild or restore your home due to the flood. This includes appliances, furniture, cleaning supplies, and other building supplies. The total refund is limited to $2500, and you can only apply for one refund. To qualify, the items you purchased must have been used for your primary residence, must not cost more than $3200 per item (for appliances and furniture) and $500 (for cleaning/building supplies). You must make purchases by September 30, but may file a claim until November 30 and still qualify. It is anticipated that this deadline may be extended by leglislation expected to be introduced in January 2011, so save your receipts. You are required to show proof of purchase, sales tax paid, and proof that you applied for and received Federal disaster assistance.

Here is the refund form. For more information from the Department of Revenue, click here.

Property Tax Relief
The legislature has authorized the counties to allow taxpayers some relief on property tax for personal and industrial items by prorating the tax assessment the year. The county legislative body must approve this relief. For information on property tax relief in Davidson County, please click here. As we learn of other counties doing this, we will post more information.

Metro Nashville Flood Buyout Plan

2010-06-14T17:56:00.001-05:00

In cooperation with FEMA and TEMA, Metro will be making buyout offers to about 200 homeowners. These homeowners should be receiving a letter in the mail within the next two weeks. The buyout is voluntary. You cannot be forced to sell.

Buyout prices will be based on the pre-flood fair market appraisal. Closing costs will be covered. Moving and relocation expenses will generally not be covered. You are still responsible for any mortgage.

Whether a home might be eligible depends on the circumstances. Homes in the floodway (the area closest to where water flows during a flood) may not be repaired if they have sustained significant damage (more than 50% of the value of the property). Metro will not issue permits on these homes. Therefore, the homes than cannot be repaired and other homes that had damages of 40% or more of the value of the property will receive first consideration for the buyout. If more funding becomes available, more homes in the 100 year flood plain might be buyout eligible.

Click here for more information.

Disaster Related Unemployment Benefits--Deadlines Soon!

2010-06-05T08:57:00.002-05:00

If your job situation was affected by the flooding, you may be eligible for Disaster-Related Unemployment Benefits. Click here to read more about eligibility requirements.

Deadlines vary by county, and, for most counties, the deadline is Monday, June 7.

IRS Free Tax Help Open House

2010-06-04T17:04:00.003-05:00

While this is not geared specifically for flood victims, it is still a valuable opportunity.

Saturday, June 5, the IRS is holding a nationwide open house to address tax concerns. The Nashville location is 801 Broadway, and the open house will run from 9am to 2pm. If you have any outstanding tax issue, please take advantage of this opportunity for free help. At the last open house, approximately 97% of people who went had their tax issue resolved that day.

UPDATE on One-Time Cash Payouts and Emergency Food Stamps

2010-05-20T07:44:00.003-05:00

May 28 is the last day to register for One-Time Cash Payouts and Emergency Food Stamps for the following counties: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Bigson, Haywood, Hickman, Humphreys, Madison, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, Sumner, and Tipton.

To qualify, your income must not exceed 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, and you must have already been registered with FEMA for disaster assistance.

Click here for information about the program.
Click here for information on the extended deadline.
Click here for the application.

New Proposals for Help

2010-05-19T11:24:00.003-05:00

There are several proposals to give additional financial relief to flood victims. These include sales tax relief on purchasing replacement appliances and the possibility of the outright purchase of damaged homes. Please be aware that these are only proposals that have been suggested. As soon as we have any definite information regarding relief, we will post it here.

Federal Disaster Relief Now Available

2010-05-04T18:01:00.010-05:00

Parts of Tennessee are Presidentially Declared Federal Disaster Areas eligible for individual assistance. This makes a variety of Federal Aid available. To learn more about FEMA aid, including temporary housing, grants, and loans, click here or read the posts below on this page. You can also click here to read FEMA's Guide to Help After A Disaster. You can apply online or by phone at 1-800-621-3362.

The following counties have been declared eligible for individual assistance:
Benton, Cannon, Carroll, Chester, Clay, Crockett, Cheatham, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Giles, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson, and Wilson.

Please note that some counties have been declared eligible for FEMA assistance but not individual assistance. In those counties, individuals are not eligible for direct aid, but local governments and organizations can apply for specific aid. All counties in Tennessee are eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, but, again, this does not involve direct aid to individuals.

What to do Now and Recovering Lost Documents

2010-05-03T15:41:00.017-05:00

1. Make sure you get your Social Security checks and other important mail
If you receive Social Security or other checks in the mail, and you have been displaced by the flooding, be sure to let Social Security know of your new address. Consider changing to direct deposit so that you will continue to receive your money as quickly as possible. For information on Social Security direct deposit, click here. To change your address with Social Security, click here. To change your address with the U.S. Postal Service, click here.

2. File insurance claims
Even if you think your losses won't be covered, it is still a good idea to make a claim on your policy, because some federal assistance programs require this as a first step to receiving aid. For general information on insurance claims, click here.

3. Recover Important Documents
You may have lost important documents in the flood. Determine whether or how to replace those documents.

--Car titles are registered with the state. Information on obtaining duplicate copies is here.

--Deeds that have been recorded will be lodged with the Register of Deeds in your county. That office can provide you with a copy for a nominal charge. If you receive a letter from a private company offering to help you get a copy of your deed for a charge, please know that your local Register of Deeds will probably be able to help you faster and for much less.

--Duplicate Driver's Licenses can be ordered online here.

--Social Security Cards are replaced for free, but you must have appropriate documentation to verify your identity. More information is located here.

--Birth Certificates and other vital records can be ordered through the state here.

--Shot Records are filed with the local county department of health where the child lived at the time of immunization.

--U.S. Savings Bonds that have been destroyed can be reissued. For more information, click here. In Presidentially Declared Federal Disaster Areas, the initial holding period for savings bonds can be waived, allowing you to cash them earlier.

--Damaged Currency can be replaced. Learn more at the U.S. Treasury's website, here.

--Original Wills, Powers of Attorney, and other Estate Planning Documents that have been destroyed should be re-executed, because if a will is destroyed, the law considers it to have been revoked. Call your estate planning attorney to make arrangements to execute new documents. Lawyers at this firm have volunteered to assist flood victims whose estate planning documents have been destroyed.

--Financial and Health Records. Many financial and health records are now kept online. Contact your banks, credit card companies, health insurance company, doctor's offices, and pharmacies to see if you can access your personal records through their websites.

--Tax Records. The IRS will waive fees and expedite requests for records. Use IRS Form 4506 or 4506-T and write in the top in red ink the assigned disaster designation. For more information, click here.

--Military Discharge Records. To request replacements, click here.

--Federal Employment Records. For information, click here.

--Immigration Documentation. For information on replacing documents, click here.

--Medicare Cards. Click here to request a replacement Medicare Card.

--TennCare/Medicaid. Click here for a list of contact information. Please note that the TennCare offices were affected by the flood.

--Damaged Photos. Click here to read information on Operation Photo Rescue's trip to Nashville.

4. Get new prescriptions
If you regularly take prescription medicine and your prescription was lost or destroyed, contact your pharmacy. The Tennessee Pharmacists Association has made its members aware of provisions in the law that allow them to replace your medication.

5. Beware of Scams
Although this disaster has brought out the best in this Volunteer State, there are always those who will try to take advantage of the needy. Be especially aware of persons who are charging to help clean up or repair your home; they may take your downpayment and never come back. If someone says he's from the electric company, the telephone company, or any other utility or service provider, ask for identification and write down the name before you let them inspect for damage or come inside your home. Federal Assistance Programs do not require fees to apply; do not pay anyone "processing fees" to help you get government grants or loans.

6. Don't forget your legal obligations
If you are a renter or landlord, make sure you obtain legal advice quickly as to your rights and obligations. If you owe child support, have a visitation schedule, or have an upcoming court date, make sure that you let the appropriate persons know if you will have trouble meeting your obligations because you are a flood victim. The IRS has extended the dealines for certain tax reporting requirements. If you have outstanding tax returns or if you are contacted for an audit or examination, be sure to inform the IRS that you are a disaster victim. Information on free legal clinics can be found here.

General Information about Insurance

2010-05-03T15:40:00.005-05:00

Here is some general information about insurance policies and coverage.

1. Homeowners and Standard Commercial Building Insurance Policies
Standard homeowners and commercial building insurance policies will not cover flood damage. They do, however, typically cover wind-related damage. If the water in your home was able to come into your home because of wind damage, your regular insurance policy might apply. If you lost power and had damage from the power loss, your regular insurance might apply. Contact your insurance agent even if you don't think that your loss will be covered. Some federal programs require that you first file a claim on your own coverage before you receive federal assistance.

2. Flood Insurance
If you own a home in certain designated flood plains, your lender should have required that you purchase flood insurance. Often, these policies will be paid out of your escrow account with your lender. If you do not know if you have flood insurance, contact your lender or servicer to see if payments have been made on a flood policy on your behalf.

3. Autos and Other Personal Property
If you had comprehensive coverage on your automobile policy, flood damage is likely covered. This would include any personal property you had in your vehicle, up to your policy limits. So, make a list of items such as cds, gps devices, and other property that may be covered by your insurance.

Federal Disaster Grants

2010-05-03T15:31:00.006-05:00

Parts of Tennessee have been declared federal disaster areas. This makes a variety of aid available.

Federal aid can include:

1. Temporary Housing
Money to rent a new place to live or government-provided housing.

2. Repair Assistance
Money to help repair your home to make it safe, sanitary, and functional.

3. Housing Replacement Assistance
Money to help replace a destroyed home.

4. Other Urgent Needs
Money for necessary expenses such as medical and dental treatment, replacing personal property, help with transportation, and moving.

5. Disaster-related unemployment benefits. For more information, click here.

You must apply for this money and be approved for payments. For more information, or to apply online for a wide range of benefits, click here.

Loans to Recover and Rebuild

2010-05-03T15:30:00.006-05:00

In Presidentially-declared Federal Disaster Areas, a variety of low-interest loans are available for homeowners, business owners, and renters.

If your area is declared a Federal Disaster Area, the following loans may be available:

Small Business Administration Loans - Not Just for Business Owners

Homeowners can apply for a loan to repair or replace their home. You may be able to refinance existing liens on the property. Renters and homeowners can borrow money to replace clothing, furniture, cars, etc.

Business Disaster Loans

Non-profits and For-Profit Businesses of any size can qualify for loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged real property, equipment, and inventory. Even if your business wasn't physically damaged, you may qualify for assistance due to the economic impact on your business. The Small Business Administration has set up an information center for flood victims at TSU's downtown Nashville campus. It is open from 8am-7pm Monday through Saturday.

Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims and Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance

Homeowners may qualify for assistance to buy new homes, rebuild damaged homes, convert property to other uses, or even rehabilitate property that has non-residential uses.

Learn more information about federal relief by clicking here.