The Author

Hello, my name is Anne-Marie, also known as Dr. Anne-Marie Pollowy or Dr. Anne-Marie Pollowy Toliver or just Anne-Marie.

I just wrote this Quick Guide after watching all the people in California loose their homes. You can get this Guide for FREE and it will help you get started on the road to recovery.

I am also writing a Blog for those of you who want a lot more information about what you can do after this fire.

In 2004 I wrote the HOME OWNER'S GUIDE TO DISASTER TAX RELIEF (before Katrina!). I chose to write it because of my empathy with the victims, because … as the saying goes … been there, done that.

My introduction to a disaster was in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo devastated our Paradise island of Montserrat. My second disaster started in 1995 when the Soufriere volcano rumbled back to life in Montserrat; in 1997, after a major eruption that killed some friends, we left our not quite paradise island.

It is still difficult to think back at the trauma of the hurricane … the preparations, the sharing of a mattress on the floor with my three frightened dogs in need of the reassurance of a warm body. When it was all over, I was horrified by the decimated, leafless trees and roofless homes. Both our telephone and electrical systems were out. The whole island was in basic survival mode. Then came the slow, very slow reconstruction.

For years afterward my dogs cowered and hid under the bed at the sound of a crashing rainstorm on our corrugated metal roof.

For years afterward I woke at night in terror when I heard the keening sound of the wind.

The volcano was different. It announced itself slowly, with a few rumbles and earthquakes that built over a couple of years into massive thunder filled explosions that turned day into night and covered everything … inside and out … with a gritty, gray film of ash.

This book is based on my research and 15 years of hands-on, personal experience with the Internal Revenue Code's disaster tax relief (that is not what they call it, but that's how I feel about it).

My first inkling of this tiny, relatively unknown, but potentially powerful tax clause was in 1990, while I worked on our 1989 (Hurricane Hugo) tax return. A local accountant tipped me off. Just a small tip…nothing very substantial, but enough to arouse my curiosity. I dug through whatever meager documentation I could find -- this was before the Internet made research so very easy and way before the IRS tried to put some disaster-oriented information together. 

In April 1990 we submitted (with some trepidation) our 1989 tax return with a large disaster relief claim. And …it was accepted. We didn’t pay any income tax for 1989 and we successfully claimed a refund for the 1988, 1987, and 1986 Federal income tax paid. Can you imagine? 3 years' worth of taxes -- refunded!

Now I was really intrigued. I wanted to learn more, and do more. I became something of an advocate and started helping neighbors with their disaster losses.

And here I am today hoping to help the hundreds of thousands disaster victims with just a bit of good news. The IRS can and will help you, if you prepare for and claim your allowable disaster tax relief.

Just a final word before you go back to the book.

Professionally, I am an architect and a retired University professor. I have several degrees, including a Ph.D.

I used to run a research center so I am pretty good at digging through obtuse manuals ….and I can tell you, the IRS publications sure qualify. But I am NOT an accountant, a CPA or a tax advisor.

In Section 2 of the book I keep suggesting that you consult a tax specialist. That's because tax laws change and although I am using my best interpretation of published IRS documents, your specific situation may require specialized attention. If you need help, I can give you the name and telephone number of an accountant I do trust.

Thank you and I hope this is a profitable read for you.