Law Office of Jay Fleisher, P.A.

Tax Break for Haiti Relief Donations (Jan. 22, 2010)

The Senate on January 21 approved by unanimous consent legislation to facilitate charitable giving by Americans to the emergency aid and rebuilding efforts in Haiti(HR 4462). The law allows U.S. taxpayers to make charitable contributions to Haiti relief programs before March 1, 2010, and claim those contributions on their 2009 income tax return.

The House approved the bill by unanimous consent on January 20. The measure would also allow phone bills to be used as proof for taxpayers who made their donation via a text message. Under current law, taxpayers would have to wait until 2011 to claim a tax deduction on their 2010 returns for Haiti-related contributions. President Obama is expected to sign the bill soon.