LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two free community workshops on post-disaster tax matters are being hosted in Middletown and Lakeport.

The first workshop will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Twin Pine Casino Event Center, 22223 Highway 29 in Middletown.

The second workshop is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Lake County residents whose homes, rentals, businesses or property has been damaged or destroyed in the recent Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fires, along with community leaders, Realtors, personal finance professionals and income tax professionals are encouraged to attend.

The workshops will feature guest speaker and disaster tax expert John Trapani, CPA.

For more than 20 years Trapani has assisted taxpayers who experience a catastrophic loss with resolving their tax and financial issues that arise out of these extraordinary situations.

Trapani developed a personal perspective on the process of recovering, from his first-hand catastrophic loss experiences in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Topics to be covered include:

– Income tax benefits and reporting responsibilities that can help and hurt people who experienced a disaster loss.
– Is there a loss or a gain?
– Tax year to claim a loss?
– Sell and buy or rebuild?
– Documenting and claiming insured and uninsured losses.
– Tax consequences of insurance settlements, SBA loans, FEMA grants, etc.
– Special rules for federally declared disasters.

The workshops are sponsored by John Trapani, CPA; United Policyholders; and Robertson & Associates, CPAs.

For more information, please RSVP to Robertson & Associates, CPAs at 707-263-9012 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .