Fire victims get relief.

• Position: FTB News

Taxpayers impacted by the wildfires in the federally declared disaster areas--Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties--will be given tax relief.

Taxpayers can claim a disaster loss in the tax year the disaster occurred (on the 2007 tax return they will file in the spring) or in the year before the disaster occurred (by amending the 2006 tax return filed earlier this year). The advantage of...