Over the weekend the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it expanded public assistance for debris removal and emergency services to two types of individual assistance for California wildfire victims:
- Income- and property-tax relief for individuals and businesses
- Grants and loans for those in Sonoma, Napa, Butte, Lake, Mendocino and Yuba counties
Homeowners, renters and businesses can apply for grants and low-interest loans to pay for uninsured fire-related expenses like temporary housing, emergency medical costs and funeral expenses, to replace personal property, including automobiles, and to make home repairs. The Small Business Administration is handling the national disaster loans to both business and homeowner wildfire victims.
California wildfire victims can apply through early December at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling (800) 621-3362 or at California Office of Emergency Services centers when they open.
Tax Relief Provisions
The Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board authorized income and property-tax relief and have extended certain filing deadlines for those affected.
Victims may also be eligible for property tax relief and should inquire at their local county tax aseessor’s office within 12 months. In areas where Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency, property tax payments can be deferred without penalty or interest until the property is reassessed. If property taxes are dispersed with mortgage payments, however, only reassessment is available.
FEMA also made public assistance available to Solano and Orange counties to address wildfires in Southern California.
