How to Deduct a Car Accident From Your Taxes
You can deduct the physical and property damage caused by an accident on your federal taxes using Form 4686 and Schedule A of Form 1040.
Written by Brady Klopfer
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Table of Contents
Getting into a car accident–even a minor one—can be a big hassle. Not only do you have to deal with the emotional (and potentially physical) trauma of the crash, but you also have to handle having your car repaired, and filing an insurance claim. And, to top it all off, you’ll likely have to pay money to cover your deductible, and potentially even more money if the accident eclipses what your
car insurance
covers.Naturally, if you end up having to spend money due to a car accident, you’ll undoubtedly want to get some of it back. That may seem like asking for the impossible, but it’s not! You can actually get some of the money that you’ve lost in a car accident back, by deducting the accident from your taxes come tax season. You may not be able to undo all of the emotional and physical damage of the accident, but getting some of your money back is a big start.
Luckily it isn't that difficult to get some cash back. And here at
Jerry
, we've compiled everything you need to know about covering your losses.So, to find out how you can claim your car on your taxes, read on.
What can I deduct from my taxes?
There are two types of damage caused by a car accident: personal injury (physical damage caused to you), and property damage (damage to your property, usually your car). Either type of damage, caused by a car accident, can potentially be deducted from your taxes.
However, you can only deduct money that you actually had to pay. For instance, if an accident resulted in $40,000 worth of damage, and your insurance company covered $35,000, then you will only be able to deduct up to $5,000.
Furthermore, you cannot deduct money from damage due to a car accident if you did not file an insurance claim after the accident. You also are only legally allowed to deduct money for damages that were not caused due to your own negligence, or a willful act (or a driver in your vehicle that was negligent, or committing a willful act).
Key Takeaway You can deduct as much money as you had to pay for the accident, so long as you did not cause it and you file an insurance claim.
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How do I deduct car accident damage from my taxes?
To deduct money lost due to a car accident, you will need to fill out a Form 4684. The property losses will be deducted through Form 4684, and both the property losses and medical expenses will have to be listed on Schedule A of Form 1040.
It’s worth noting that your medical deductions are all grouped together. In other words, the medical expenses that are the result of a car accident are treated the same as any other medical expenses that you incurred throughout the year. Physical damage as the result of a car accident is not deducted differently, and is subject to the income-based limit that you can deduct for medical expenses.
When filing your taxes and deducting money from car accident damage, you won’t need to file any claims or documentation proving the accident occurred, or the fiscal damage is accurate. However, if you are audited, you will need to provide that information, so you should keep both your insurance claim, and all damage documentation.
Deducting money from damage caused in a car accident is relatively easy. By doing so, you can get some of your money back, and limit the total damage and hassle caused by the collision.
Key Takeaway To deduct money lost from a car accident, you won’t need to provide any claims or proofs, just fill out a Form 4684 and Schedule A of a Form 1040. However, make sure to keep your insurance claim and damage documentation in case you are audited.
If you want to keep even more of your money, and to protect yourself and your car in the future, make sure to check out
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FAQs
Is a car accident a casualty loss?
Yes, a car accident can be considered a casualty loss if you can prove that you were not at fault in the collision. If you were at fault, or if it's up for debate, you can't claim a car accident for a tax deduction.
Is automobile insurance tax deductible?
Usually it's not. However, if you use your car for business purposes, then all costs associated with running the car, including gas, repairs, and any other expenses, are tax deductible.
