26 U.S.C. § 165
Losses
There shall be allowed as a deduction any loss sustained during the taxable year and not compensated for by insurance or otherwise.
For purposes of subsection (a), the basis for determining the amount of the deduction for any loss shall be the adjusted basis provided in section 1011 for determining the loss from the sale or other disposition of property.
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “losses from wagering transactions” includes any deduction otherwise allowable under this chapter incurred in carrying on any wagering transaction.
For purposes of subsection (a), any loss arising from theft shall be treated as sustained during the taxable year in which the taxpayer discovers such loss.
Losses from sales or exchanges of capital assets shall be allowed only to the extent allowed in sections 1211 and 1212.
If any security which is a capital asset becomes worthless during the taxable year, the loss resulting therefrom shall, for purposes of this subtitle, be treated as a loss from the sale or exchange, on the last day of the taxable year, of a capital asset.
Any loss of an individual described in subsection (c)(3) shall be allowed only to the extent that the amount of the loss to such individual arising from each casualty, or from each theft, exceeds $500 ($100 for taxable years beginning after
The term “personal casualty gain” means the recognized gain from any involuntary conversion of property which is described in subsection (c)(3) arising from fire, storm, shipwreck, or other casualty, or from theft.
The term “personal casualty loss” means any loss described in subsection (c)(3). For purposes of paragraph (2), the amount of any personal casualty loss shall be determined after the application of paragraph (1).
In any case to which paragraph (2)(A) applies, the deduction for personal casualty losses for any taxable year shall be treated as a deduction allowable in computing adjusted gross income to the extent such losses do not exceed the personal casualty gains for the taxable year.
For purposes of this subsection, a husband and wife making a joint return for the taxable year shall be treated as 1 individual.
For purposes of paragraph (2), the adjusted gross income of an estate or trust shall be computed in the same manner as in the case of an individual, except that the deductions for costs paid or incurred in connection with the administration of the estate or trust shall be treated as allowable in arriving at adjusted gross income.
No loss described in subsection (c)(3) shall be allowed if, at the time of filing the return, such loss has been claimed for estate tax purposes in the estate tax return.
Any loss of an individual described in subsection (c)(3) to the extent covered by insurance shall be taken into account under this section only if the individual files a timely insurance claim with respect to such loss.
In the case of an individual, except as provided in subparagraph (B), any personal casualty loss which (but for this paragraph) would be deductible in a taxable year beginning after
The term “State declared disaster” means, with respect to any State, any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought), or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the State, which in the determination of the Governor of such State (or the Mayor, in the case of the District of Columbia) and the Secretary causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant the application of the rules of this section.
The term “State” includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), any loss occurring in a disaster area and attributable to a federally declared disaster may, at the election of the taxpayer, be taken into account for the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year in which the disaster occurred.
If an election is made under this subsection, the casualty resulting in the loss shall be treated for purposes of this title as having occurred in the taxable year for which the deduction is claimed.
The amount of the loss taken into account in the preceding taxable year by reason of paragraph (1) shall not exceed the uncompensated amount determined on the basis of the facts existing at the date the taxpayer claims the loss.
Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary from prescribing regulations or other guidance under which an appraisal for the purpose of obtaining a loan of Federal funds or a loan guarantee from the Federal Government as a result of a federally declared disaster may be used to establish the amount of any loss described in paragraph (1) or (2).
The term “Federally 1
The term “disaster area” means the area so determined to warrant such assistance.
Nothing in subsection (a) or in any other provision of law shall be construed to provide a deduction for any loss sustained on any registration-required obligation unless such obligation is in registered form (or the issuance of such obligation was subject to tax under section 4701).
The term “registration-required obligation” has the meaning given to such term by section 163(f)(2).
The term “registered form” has the same meaning as when used in section 163(f).
For purposes of this subsection, the term “deposit” means any deposit, withdrawable account, or withdrawable or repurchasable share.
In lieu of any election under paragraph (1), the taxpayer may elect to treat the amount referred to in paragraph (1) for the taxable year as an ordinary loss described in subsection (c)(2) incurred during the taxable year.
No election may be made under subparagraph (A) with respect to any loss on a deposit in a qualified financial institution if part or all of such deposit is insured under Federal law.
With respect to each financial institution, the aggregate amount of losses attributable to deposits in such financial institution to which an election under subparagraph (A) may be made by the taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $20,000 ($10,000 in the case of a separate return by a married individual). The limitation of the preceding sentence shall be reduced by the amount of any insurance proceeds under any State law which can reasonably be expected to be received with respect to losses on deposits in such institution.
Section 166 shall not apply to any loss to which an election under this subsection applies.
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, referred to in subsecs. (i)(5)(A) and (k), is Pub. L. 93–288,
2025—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70114(a), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Losses from wagering transactions shall be allowed only to the extent of the gains from such transactions. For purposes of the preceding sentence, in the case of taxable years beginning after
Subsec. (h)(5). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70109(a)(2), substituted “beginning after 2017” for “2018 through 2025” in heading.
Subsec. (h)(5)(A). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70109(b)(1), substituted “(i)(5)) or a State declared disaster” for “(i)(5))”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70109(a)(1), struck out “, and before
Subsec. (h)(5)(B)(i). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70109(b)(2), substituted “(as so defined) or a State declared disaster” for “(as so defined)”.
Subsec. (h)(5)(C). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70109(b)(3), added subpar. (C).
2017—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–97, § 11050(a), inserted at end “For purposes of the preceding sentence, in the case of taxable years beginning after
Subsec. (h)(5). Pub. L. 115–97, § 11044(a), added par. (5).
2014—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 113–295, § 211(c)(1)(C), substituted “Dollar” for “$100” in heading.
Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(27)(A), redesignated par. (4) as (3) and struck out former par. (3) which related to special rule for losses in federally declared disasters.
Subsec. (h)(3)(B). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(27)(B), substituted “paragraph (2)” for “paragraphs (2) and (3)”.
Subsec. (h)(4), (5). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(27)(A), redesignated par. (5) as (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (3).
Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(27)(C)(i), struck out “(as defined by clause (ii) of subsection (h)(3)(C))” after “disaster area” and “(as defined by clause (i) of such subsection)” after “federally declared disaster”.
Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(27)(C)(ii), struck out “(as defined by subsection (h)(3)(C)(i)” after “federally declared disaster”.
Subsec. (i)(5). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(27)(C)(iii), added par. (5).
2010—Subsec. (j)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–147 struck out “except that clause (iv) of subparagraph (A), and subparagraph (B), of such section shall not apply” before period.
2008—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 110–343, § 706(c), substituted “$500 ($100 for taxable years beginning after
Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 110–343, § 706(a)(1), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).
Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 110–343, § 706(a)(1), redesignated par. (3) as (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).
Subsec. (h)(4)(B). Pub. L. 110–343, § 706(a)(2)(A), substituted “paragraphs (2) and (3)” for “paragraph (2)”.
Subsec. (h)(5). Pub. L. 110–343, § 706(a)(1), redesignated par. (4) as (5).
Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 110–343, § 706(a)(2)(B), substituted “loss occurring in a disaster area (as defined by clause (ii) of subsection (h)(3)(C)) and attributable to a federally declared disaster (as defined by clause (i) of such subsection)” for “loss attributable to a disaster occurring in an area subsequently determined by the President of the United States to warrant assistance by the Federal Government under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act”.
Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 110–343, § 706(a)(2)(C), substituted “federally declared disaster (as defined by subsection (h)(3)(C)(i)” for “Presidentially declared disaster (as defined by section 1033(h)(3))”.
2004—Subsecs. (i)(1), (k). Pub. L. 108–311 inserted “Robert T. Stafford” before “Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act”.
2000—Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 318(b)(2)], struck out last sentence of concluding provisions which read as follows: “As used in subparagraph (A), the term ‘stock’ does not include nonvoting stock which is limited and preferred as to dividends.”
Subsec. (g)(3)(A). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 318(b)(1)], amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “stock possessing at least 80 percent of the voting power of all classes of its stock and at least 80 percent of each class of its nonvoting stock is owned directly by the taxpayer, and”.
1997—Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 105–34 added par. (4).
1988—Subsecs. (i)(1), (k). Pub. L. 100–707 substituted “and Emergency Assistance Act” for “Act of 1974”.
Subsec. (l)(5) to (7). Pub. L. 100–647 added pars. (5) and (6), redesignated former par. (6) as (7), and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: “
1986—Subsec. (h)(4)(E). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1004(a), added subpar. (E).
Subsecs. (l), (m). Pub. L. 99–514, § 905(a), added subsec. (l) and redesignated former subsec. (l) as (m).
1984—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 98–369, § 711(c)(2)(A)(i), extended limitation to losses of property not connected with a transaction entered into for profit.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 98–369, § 711(c)(2)(A)(ii), substituted heading “Treatment of casualty gains and losses” for “Casualty and theft losses”; substituted par. (1) “$100 limitation per casualty” provision for former par. (1) “General rule” provision stating that: “Any loss of an individual described in subsection (c)(3) shall be allowed for any taxable year only to the extent that—
“(A) the amount of loss to such individual arising from each casualty, or from each theft, exceeds $100, and
“(B) the aggregate amount of all such losses sustained by such individual during the taxable year (determined after application of subparagraph (A) exceeds 10 percent of the adjusted gross income of the individual.”;
added par. (2) “Net casualty loss allowed only to the extent it exceeds 10 percent of adjusted gross income” provision and par. (3) “Definitions of personal casualty gain and personal casualty loss” provisions; redesignated as par. (4) former par. (2) catchline; added par. (4)(A) “Personal casualty losses allowable in computing adjusted gross income to the extent of personal casualty gains” provision; redesignated as par. (4)(B) former par. (2)(A) joint returns provision, substituting “For purposes of this section” for “For purposes of the $100 and 10 percent limitations described in paragraph (1)” and “individual” for “one individual”; redesignated as par. (4)(C) former par. (2)(B), substituting therein paragraph “(2)” for “(1)”; and redesignated as par. (4)(D) former par. (2)(C).
Pub. L. 98–369, § 711(c)(1), amended par. (2) by redesignating subpar. (B) as (C) and by adding a new subpar. (B) relating to the determination of adjusted gross income in case of estates and trusts.
Subsec. (j)(3). Pub. L. 98–369, § 42(a)(4), substituted “section 1287” for “subsection (d) of section 1232”.
Subsecs. (k), (l). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1051(a), added subsec. (k) and redesignated former subsec. (k) as (l).
1982—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 97–248, § 203(b), inserted “except as provided in subsection (h),” before “losses of property” and struck out provisions that a loss described in this paragraph would be allowed only to the extent that the amount of loss to such individual arising from each casualty, or from each theft, exceeded $100, that, for purposes of the $100 limitation, a husband and wife making a joint return under section 6013 for the taxable year in which the loss was allowed as a deduction would be treated as one individual, and that no loss described in this paragraph would be allowed if, at the time of filing the return, such loss had been claimed for estate tax purposes in the estate tax return.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 97–248, § 203(a), added subsec. (h) relating to casualty and theft losses. Former subsec. (h), relating to disaster losses, redesignated (i).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 97–248, § 203(a), redesignated former subsec. (h), relating to disaster losses, as (i), in subsec. (i), as so redesignated, further redesignated existing unnumbered provisions as pars. (1) and (2), in par. (1), as so redesignated, substituted “be taken into account for the taxable year” for “be deducted for the taxable year”, in par. (2), as so redesignated, substituted “shall be treated for purposes of this title as having occurred” for “will be deemed to have occurred”, added par. (3), and struck out provision that a deduction under this subsection could not be in excess of so much of the loss as would have been deductible in the taxable year in which the casualty occurred, based on facts existing at the date the taxpayer claimed the loss. Former subsec. (i), setting forth cross references, redesignated (j).
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 97–248, § 310(b)(5), added subsec. (j) relating to denial of deduction for losses on certain obligations not in registered form. Former subsec. (j), setting forth cross references, redesignated (k).
Pub. L. 97–248, § 203(a), redesignated former subsec. (i), setting forth cross references, as (j).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 97–248, § 310(b)(5), redesignated former subsec. (j), setting forth cross references, as (k).
1976—Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 94–455 redesignated subsec. (j) as subsec. (i). Former subsec. (i), which related to property confiscated by Cuba, was struck out.
1974—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 93–288 substituted “Disaster Relief Act of 1974” for “Disaster Relief Act of 1970”.
1972—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 92–418 struck out par. (1) provisions relating to losses attributable to a disaster occurring during period following close of taxable year and on or before time prescribed by law for filing the income tax return for the taxable year without regard to any extension of time, struck out par. (2) designation, and inserted “attributable to a disaster” before “occurring in an area”, and at end of second sentence, inserted “based on facts existing at the date the taxpayer claims the loss”.
Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 92–336 substituted provisions relating to losses attributable to a disaster which occurs during the period after the close of the taxable year and on or before the last day of the 6th calendar month beginning after the close of the taxable year, for provisions relating to losses attributable to a disaster which occurs during the period following the close of the taxable year and on or before the time prescribed by law for filing the income tax return for the taxable year, determined without regard to any extension of time.
1971—Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 91–687 substituted “stock possessing at least 80 percent of the voting power of all classes of its stock and at least 80 percent of each class of its nonvoting stock” for “at least 95 percent of each class of its stock” in subpar. (A), and inserted at the end of the subsection the sentence providing that the term “stock”, as used in subpar. (A), does not include nonvoting stock which is limited and preferred as to dividends.
Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 91–677, § 1(a)(1), (2), struck out “or (2)” after “paragraph (1)” in cl. (B), and substituted “one or more days in the period beginning on
Subsec. (i)(2)(B). Pub. L. 91–677, § 1(a)(3), substituted “one or more days during the period beginning on
Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 91–677, § 1(a)(4), struck out subsec. (i)(3) which authorized a refund or credit to be given for any overpayment attributable to the application of par. (1), provided that a claim was filed for such refund or credit before
1970—Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 91–606 substituted “the Disaster Relief Act of 1970” for “sections 1855–1855g of title 42”.
1964—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 88–272, § 208(a), inserted requirement that losses must exceed $100 to be deductible.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 88–348 designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted provisions permitting individuals who were citizens of the United States or resident aliens on
Pub. L. 88–272, § 238, added subsec. (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j).
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 88–272, § 238, redesignated former subsec. (i) as (j).
1962—Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 87–426 added subsec. (h) and redesignated former subsec. (h) as (i).
1958—Subsec. (g)(3)(B). Pub. L. 85–866, § 7, substituted “rental of” for “rental from”.
Subsec. (h)(3), (4). Pub. L. 85–866, § 57(c)(1), added pars. (3) and (4).
Subsec. (h)(5). Pub. L. 85–866, § 202(a), added par. (5).
Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70109(c),
Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70114(b),
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11044(b),
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11050(b),
Amendment by section 211(c)(1)(C) of Pub. L. 113–295 effective as if included in the provisions of the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, to which such amendment relates, see section 211(d) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 143 of this title.
Amendment by section 221(a)(27)(A)–(C) of Pub. L. 113–295 effective
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–147 applicable to obligations issued after the date which is 2 years after
Amendment by section 706(a)(1), (2)(A)–(C) of Pub. L. 110–343 applicable to disasters declared in taxable years beginning after
Amendment by section 706(c) of Pub. L. 110–343 applicable to taxable years beginning after
Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 318(b)(3)],
Pub. L. 105–34, title IX, § 912(b),
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Amendment by section 905(a) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years beginning after
Pub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1004(b),
Amendment by section 42(a)(4) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years ending after
Amendment by section 711(c)(1) of Pub. L. 98–369 effective as if included in the provision of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, to which such amendment relates, see section 715 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 31 of this title.
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 711(c)(2)(A)(v),
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1051(b),
Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 203(c),
Amendment by section 310(b)(5) of Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to obligations issued after
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after
Amendment by Pub. L. 93–288 effective
Pub. L. 92–418, § 2(c),
Pub. L. 92–336, § 2(b),
Pub. L. 91–687, § 2,
Pub. L. 91–677, § 1(b)(1),
Pub. L. 91–606, title III, § 304,
Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 208(b),
Pub. L. 88–348, § 3(b),
Pub. L. 87–426, § 2(b),
Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 1(c),
Amendment by section 57(c)(1) of Pub. L. 85–866 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 711(c)(2)(B),
Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13224,
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1009(d)(4),
Pub. L. 99–514, title II, § 243,
Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 266,
[Pub. L. 97–424, title V, § 517(b),
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2103,
Pub. L. 91–677, § 1(b)(2),