IRS Form 8915-F – IRS Forms, Instructions, Pubs 2026

IRS Form 8915-F – IRS Forms, Instructions, Pubs 2026 – In times of crisis, such as natural disasters, accessing retirement savings without severe tax penalties can provide much-needed financial relief. IRS Form 8915-F, titled “Qualified Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments,” allows eligible taxpayers to report distributions from retirement accounts related to qualified disasters. This form helps spread taxable income over three years, waive early withdrawal penalties, and facilitate repayments. As of February 2026, this guide covers the form’s purpose, eligibility, filing process, and recent updates, drawing from official IRS resources to ensure accuracy.

Whether you’re dealing with a recent disaster or reporting prior distributions, understanding Form 8915-F can optimize your tax situation. Let’s break it down step by step.

What Is IRS Form 8915-F?

Form 8915-F is a specialized IRS tax form used to report qualified distributions from eligible retirement plans due to federally declared disasters. It replaced Form 8915-E starting in 2021 and serves as a “forever form,” meaning the same version is used for multiple years and disasters from 2020 onward. This includes coronavirus-related distributions from 2020 and qualified disaster distributions for 2020 and later years.

The form applies to distributions from plans like 401(k)s, IRAs (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs), 403(b)s, and governmental 457(b) plans. It allows taxpayers to:

  • Report distributions taken to cover economic losses from disasters.
  • Spread the taxable portion over three years (or include it all in the year received via an election).
  • Repay distributions within specified periods to reduce or eliminate tax liability.
  • Avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty for those under age 59½.

Key benefits include tax deferral and flexibility for repayments, making it a vital tool for disaster recovery.

Who Needs to File Form 8915-F?

You should file Form 8915-F if:

  • Your main home was in a qualified disaster area.
  • You sustained an economic loss due to the disaster (e.g., property damage, job loss, or displacement).
  • You received a qualified disaster distribution from an eligible retirement plan during the distribution period.
  • You’re reporting income from prior-year distributions or making repayments.

The form is attached to your Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR for the relevant tax year. It’s required even if you’re only reporting repayments or spreading income from previous years. Spouses file separately if both qualify.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Qualified Disaster: Must be a major disaster declared by the President, identifiable by a FEMA declaration number starting with “DR.” Check FEMA’s disaster declarations page for verification.
  • Economic Loss: No minimum loss amount required; includes any adverse financial impact.
  • Distribution Limits: Up to $100,000 for 2020 disasters (including coronavirus); $22,000 per disaster for 2021 and later.
  • Distribution Period: Starts on the disaster’s beginning date and ends 179 days after the later of the beginning date, declaration date, or December 29, 2022 (for 2021+ disasters).

For example, if a disaster began in January 2026 and was declared in February, the period might extend into mid-2026 or later.

Types of Distributions Covered by Form 8915-F

Form 8915-F handles two main types:

  1. Qualified Disaster Distributions: These are hardship withdrawals from retirement plans due to the disaster. They can be spread over three years for tax purposes and repaid within three years +1 day to avoid taxes.
  2. Qualified Distributions for Home Purchase/Construction: Special distributions (up to the plan’s limits) for buying or building a main home in the disaster area. These are taxed in the year received but can be repaid within 180 days after the later of the disaster dates or December 29, 2022.

Exclusions include corrective distributions, excess deferrals, or loans not treated as distributions.

How to Fill Out IRS Form 8915-F: Step-by-Step?

Filling out the form requires careful attention to details from your Form 1099-R and disaster specifics. Here’s a high-level overview based on the latest instructions:

  1. Header and Items A-D:
    • Item A: Select the tax year (e.g., 2025 for your 2025 return filed in 2026).
    • Item B: Year the disaster began.
    • Item C: FEMA DR number(s) for up to six disasters.
    • Item D: Check for coronavirus (2020 only).
  2. Part I: Total Distributions:
    • Enter distributions from all plans and allocate to disasters using Worksheets 1A or 1B if multiple disasters apply.
    • Calculate available limits and excess distributions.
  3. Part II: Non-IRA Distributions:
    • Report amounts, basis, taxable portion, and elections for three-year spread.
    • Use Worksheets 2 and 3 for prior inclusions and repayments.
  4. Part III: IRA Distributions:
    • Similar to Part II, but for IRAs; use Worksheets 4 and 3.
  5. Part IV: Home Purchase Distributions:
    • Report amounts and repayments; use Worksheet 5 if needed.

Attach worksheets if used, and file electronically if possible. For repayments after filing, amend with Form 1040-X.

Deadlines and Filing Tips

  • File with your annual tax return by the due date (typically April 15, or extended to October 15).
  • Repayment periods: 3 years for disaster distributions; specific 180-day window for home purchase distributions.
  • For 2026 filings (2025 tax year), ensure you’re using the December 2025 revised form.
  • If deceased during the spread period, report remaining income on the final return.

Tax Implications and Benefits of Using Form 8915-F

  • Tax Spreading: Divide taxable amounts equally over three years to lower your tax bracket.
  • Penalty Waiver: No 10% early withdrawal tax on qualified amounts.
  • Repayments: Tax-free if repaid timely; excess can be carried back or forward.
  • Other Impacts: May affect Form 8606 for IRA basis or Form 5329 for penalties.

For instance, a $22,000 distribution in 2026 could be reported as ~$7,333 per year from 2026-2028, reducing immediate tax burden.

Recent Updates for 2025-2026

As of December 2025, the IRS revised Form 8915-F with:

  • IRA Naming Convention: IRAs are now categorized as “traditional IRAs” (including SEP/SIMPLE) or “Roth IRAs” (including Roth SEP/SIMPLE) for clarity.
  • New Line 5a: Calculates non-qualified portions of distributions from lines 2-4.
  • SECURE 2.0 Act Integration: Permanent rules for 2021+ disasters, including $22,000 limit and extended periods.

In early 2026, check IRS.gov for any new declarations, such as recent storms in Montana or other areas with deadlines extended to May 1, 2026. Software like TurboTax may delay support until late January 2026.

List of Qualified Disasters for Form 8915-F

Qualified disasters are ongoing and listed on FEMA.gov. As of February 2026, recent examples include:

  • Montana Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-XXXX-MT, declared late 2025; deadlines to May 1, 2026).
  • Tennessee and Mississippi Severe Winter Storm (incident January 2026).
  • Prior years: Maine Severe Storms (DR-4719-ME, 2023), Puerto Rico Hurricane Fiona (DR-4671-PR, 2022).

For a full list, visit FEMA’s Major Disaster Declarations and filter by year and state. Only “DR”-prefixed declarations qualify.

Year Example Disasters FEMA DR Numbers Distribution Limit
2020 Coronavirus, Alaska Earthquakes Various (e.g., DR-4585-AK) $100,000
2021-2025 Hurricanes, Floods, Storms e.g., DR-4649-PR (Puerto Rico) $22,000 per disaster
2026 Severe Winter Storms (Tennessee/Mississippi) Pending/Recent Declarations $22,000 per disaster

How to Obtain and Download Form 8915-F?

Download the latest version (Rev. December 2025) from the IRS website: Form 8915-F PDF and Instructions PDF. Consult a tax professional for complex situations, especially with multiple disasters or repayments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What if I have multiple disasters?

Allocate distributions across disasters using Worksheet 1B, prioritizing those with earlier end dates.

2. Can I repay after the deadline?

Late repayments require an amended return; they reduce prior-year income.

3. Does this affect state taxes?

It may; check your state’s conformity to federal disaster rules.

4. What if I die during the spread period?

The remaining amount is reported on your final tax return.

5. Are Roth IRAs treated differently?

Under the 2025 updates, Roth IRAs (including Roth SEP/SIMPLE) are distinctly categorized for reporting.

For personalized advice, visit IRS.gov or consult a tax advisor. Staying informed about Form 8915-F can ease the financial strain of disasters while optimizing your retirement savings strategy.