DISASTER TAX ADVICE IN THE MEDIA

DISASTER TAX ADVICE IN THE MEDIA

BLOGGING CPA ASSISTS COLORADO TAXPAYERS RECOVERING FROM 2013 DISSTERS

Ventura County CPA, John Trapani, who has been assisting California taxpayers with their disaster income tax reporting responsibilities for over twenty years, was invited to speak to taxpayers in three counties in Colorado on “Post Disaster Income Tax Issues” recently.

The counties of Larimer, Boulder and El Paso are among many Colorado communities that experienced fire and flood disaster losses of “biblical proportions” in 2013. As part local governments’ disaster recovery assistance to their citizens, they sought the assistance of someone with years of experience assisting taxpayers in these unique situations. In cooperation with United Policyholders of San Francisco (www.uphelp.org), the three counties brought the disaster tested Thousand Oaks CPA to Colorado to bring his knowledge of the complex disaster tax rules to their citizens. Trapani was enthusiastic about helping the people who suddenly had their homes burned to the ground or literally washed away in the September 2013 storms.

VIDEO OF COLORADO PRESENTATION AVAILABLE ON YOU TUBE

The three taxpayer meetings were attended by a broad cross-section of the affected populous. The Larimer County meeting drew more than twice the anticipated audience. The Boulder meeting was moved from the Boulder Court House to a larger venue to accommodate the overflow attendance. Many in the El Paso County audience stayed over 30 minutes to get their questions answered. Over 400 people attended the three meetings.

The El Paso County meeting held in the County Commissioners meeting hall was live streamed on the county’s cable channel. It was also video recorded by the county and uploaded to YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0svQ5LkBgKs

You Tube VIDEO TITLE:  "POST DISASTER INCOME TAX ISSUES"

PRESENTED BY EL PASO COUNTY, COLORADO & UNITED POLICYHOLDERS

February 13, 2014 - CENTENNIAL HALL

TRAPANI WENT TO COLORADO SOON AFTER 20^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1994 NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE

Trapani has concentrated on working with people who experience catastrophic losses after his personal residence was severely damaged by the 6.7 magnitude, 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the twentieth anniversary of that earthquake was recently observed on January 17^th. That earthquake devastated the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angles and surrounding communities, including parts of Simi and Conejo Valleys. Trapani’s home was less than two miles from the epicenter of the quake. “It felt like twenty freight trains coming through the middle of our home all at once,” he recalls.

COLORADO PRESS INTERVIEWS VENTURA COUNTY CPA

A week after the Colorado presentations, BOULDER DAILY CAMERA business reporter, Alicia Wallace, wrote an article that featured important tax information Trapani supplied to the reporter. After the initial publication, February 23, 2014: “Taxes could be murky for Boulder County's flood victims.” (http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-business/ci_25201867/taxes-could-be-murky-boulder-countys-flood-victims?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com), the article was picked up by several other news outlets including the DENVER POST on March 1, 2014, “http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_25201867/taxes-could-be-murky-boulder-countys-flood-victims?source=rss.”

Trapani remembers the emotional shock he and his family experienced from the 1994 earthquake and saw that same look on the faces of people he assists who experienced their own disaster. “I saw that look on the faces of the people in Colorado,” Trapani recalls.

TRAPNI’S CPA FIRM OFFERS FREE DISASTER PLANNING BOOKLET AND SEMINAR TO COMMUNITY GROUPS

Trapani notes:  “That shock after a disaster that people experience is partly due to the realization that important records have been lost in the disaster. Many of the records cannot be replaced and other records are needed to report the disaster on their tax returns. I can’t bring back their home, but I can help with the income tax issues.” That look he first saw in 1994, and then saw when he spoke to groups of taxpayers in Santa Barbara in 2009 after the 2008 Tea Fire and the 2009 Jesusita Fire inspired Trapani to compile a booklet that guides people through a three step process of planning for a successful recovery after a disaster before it occurs. Trapani has spoken to Conejo Valley service clubs and church congregations to encourage their members to “Plan, Prepare, Stay Informed” in advance to “Prevail” after a disaster strikes.

From his office in Thousand Oaks, Trapani has provided tax and accounting services to Ventura and Santa Barbara County clients since 1995.

JOHN TRAPANI assists both taxpayers directly and advises taxpayers’ tax professionals.

This material was contributed by John Trapani. A Certified Public Accountant who has assisted taxpayers since 1976, in analyzing and reporting transactions of the type covered in this material.  

© 2014, John Trapani, CPA,

All rights to reproduce or quote any part of the chapter in any other publication are reserved by the author. Republication rights limited by the publisher of the book in which this chapter appears also apply.

	JOHN TRAPANI
	Certified Public Accountant
	2975 E. Hillcrest Drive, #403
	Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
	(805) 497-4411(805) 497-4411       E-mail John@TrapaniCPA.com
	Website: www.TrapaniCPA.com
	Blog: www.AccountantForDisasteRrecovery.com
	It All Adds Up For You

Internal Revenue Service Circular 230 Disclosure

This is a general discussion of tax law. The application of the law to specific facts may involve aspects that are not identical to the situations presented in this material. Relying on this material does not qualify as tax advice for purpose of mounting a defense of a tax position with the taxing authorities

The analysis of the tax consequences of any event is based on tax laws in effect at the time of the event.

This material was completed on the date of the posting

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