House OK's deductions for Haiti on '09 taxes

[babylonsister]

House OK's deductions for Haiti on '09 taxes
By Hibah Yousuf, staff reporterJanuary 20, 2010: 3:35 PM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The House unanimously approved a measure Wednesday that will allow taxpayers to deduct cash donations to Haiti earthquake relief on their 2009 tax returns instead of having to wait to file the claims next year.

Leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee from both parties introduced a bill Tuesday that makes contributions made between Jan. 12 and Feb. 28 count toward an individual's or family's 2009 taxes.

The bill also allows contributions made through text messages to be deducted if cell phone bills are provided as proof of donation.

Committee chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said in a statement that the committee "developed this legislation to make it easier, and encourage people, to donate to the relief efforts in Haiti."

Leaders from the Senate Finance Committee introduced an identical version of the bill Wednesday afternoon. A floor vote is expected later in the day.

more...

http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/20/pf/taxes/haiti_donations/index.htm

[blondeatlast]

1. YES! Excellent news. I like that word "unanmously," too. some things go way beyond politics. nt