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Disaster
or Evacuation Box
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Disaster or Evacuation Box
Rebuilding, Without Financial Records
"If you
have a disaster box with your important papers, what happens if you can't get back into
your home to retrieve it?"The best way to protect your documents is to put them on a computer disk or flash
drive and give them to a friend or trusted family member who doesn't live near you.
However, if you don't take this advice and your documents are destroyed, there is one
good place to start your reconstruction -- your tax return.
Note: The following remains a generally good list for a "Disaster or Evacuation Box"
but should be implemented using storage on computer disk stored away from your
residence.
Evacuation Box
The list below contains information and documents you will
need for income tax and insurance purposes if you are the victim of a
disaster.
It is recommended that you assemble these items in an easy to
carry box(es) so you will be better prepared if (or when) the next
disaster strikes.
1. Copies of the past four years' tax returns. If you
have a business, you should also include any business returns (such
as corporate, sales tax, payroll, etc.).
2. Copy of final escrow for home purchase if you own your
home and a list of any major improvements to the home and their cost.
3. Copies of important papers such as birth certificates,
citizenship papers, social security cards, green cards, etc.
4. Copies of driver's license(s) for all drivers in the
family, car title and registration for all cars owned or leased by the
family.
5. A list of all current prescription medication including
the name and strength of medication and the telephone numbers for
family doctors and pharmacies.
6. A notebook containing negatives of important family
photos.
7. Photos or a video tape of the inside and outside of the
house; a copy of the photos or tape should also be in your safe deposit
box.
8. Copies of all insurance policies (home, life, auto).
9. Important telephone numbers for family members, doctors,
baby sitters, schools, work numbers, emergency numbers such as
fire, police, ambulance (911 and local numbers) and the telephone
number for an out of town contact (relative or friend).
10. A list of investments, bank accounts, credit card
numbers and other important account numbers with telephone numbers for
each. For example, the name, account number and broker who holds
investments which might be needed for emergency money.
From:
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IRS The Bottom Line
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Tax Practitioner Newsletter
Internal Revenue Service
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