WASHINGTON (March 5, 2025) – WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained how changes to the tax code could affect how some Louisianians claim deductions related to damage from Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Ida and Francine in a speech on the Senate floor.
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“I realize, Mr. President of the Senate, that you would probably prefer to be condemned to hearing O.J. jokes for the rest of eternity than to hear me talk about federal income tax filing, but it is important for Americans and my people back in Louisiana because we have a new deduction for people who have uninsured losses from natural disasters. It’s really important in my state because many of my people have suffered damages, for which they did not receive insurance payments, from Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Ida and Francine.
“It is called the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act. What it does is the following: It changes the law. It now says that if you are a victim of a natural disaster like a hurricane and you have a loss that is not paid for by your insurance, you can now deduct off your income tax—dollar for dollar—any uninsured property damage in excess of $500.”
. . .
“I know folks are thinking, well, I already filed my income taxes for 2021 and 2022 and 2023. You can file an amended return. It is very simple to do. You just file an amended return that says: There has been a change in the law, and I am entitled to have this higher deduction, and therefore the federal government owes me money, and therefore please send me my check. So, I wanted to make sure that Americans knew about this new tax provision we passed.”
Background:
- In Dec. 2024, Congress passed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which allows Americans who suffered damage as a result of a federally declared disaster—including some hurricanes, tornados, and wildfires—to deduct from their taxes certain uninsured property damage in excess of $500.
- Louisianians who suffered uninsured property damage during Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Ida and Francine may be eligible for the new deduction. Those who already claimed losses from those storms between 2021 and 2023 may be able to amend their previously filed taxes to claim the new deduction.
- Individuals and couples that receive the standard tax deduction—which is 90% of Americans—will still receive the full standard deduction in addition to any deduction they may claim related to storm damage under this new law.
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
