Bipartisan Legislation Allows Tax-Deductible Charitable Donations to Haiti Relief Efforts

The US Congress has come together to pass bipartisan legislation that allows charitable donations to the Haiti relief efforts to be tax-deductible for 2009. This move is in response to the outpouring of generosity from Americans, who have donated over $220 million to major relief groups, with $22 million made through cell phone text messages. The legislation, HR 4462, ensures that taxpayers making charitable contributions to victims of the Haiti earthquake will be able to claim these donations on their 2009 tax return, rather than waiting until next year.

Key Takeaways:

• The bipartisan legislation, HR 4462, allows charitable donations to the Haiti relief efforts to be tax-deductible for 2009.
• The legislation was passed in response to the outpouring of generosity from Americans, who have donated over $220 million to major relief groups.
• Taxpayers making charitable contributions to victims of the Haiti earthquake will be able to claim these donations on their 2009 tax return, rather than waiting until next year.
• The legislation makes clear that taxpayers making a charitable contribution to victims of the Haiti earthquake through a text message will be able to rely on their cell phone bill when claiming a charitable contribution.
• Similar legislation was enacted in 2005 for charitable contributions to the Indian Ocean tsunami relief efforts.
• Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) voted in support of the legislation and emphasized the importance of Congress doing its part to support the American people's generosity.

Statistics:

• Over $220 million has been donated to major relief groups for Haiti relief efforts.
• $22 million of the donations were made through cell phone text messages.
• The legislation, HR 4462, was passed with bipartisan support.

Sources:

• "Washington" newsletter by the office of New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell (no date or publication date mentioned)