US Congress Passes Haiti Charitable Relief Plan

by Leroy Baker, Tax-News.com, New York

25 January 2010

On January 21, the United States Senate passed, by unanimous consent, legislation to facilitate charitable giving by Americans to the emergency aid and rebuilding efforts in Haiti.

The law allows US taxpayers to make charitable contributions to Haiti relief programs before March 1, 2010, and claim those contributions on their 2009 income tax return.

The Senate vote followed unanimous approval of the legislation in the House of Representatives on January 20.

The Haiti Act of 2010 is similar to 2005 legislation to encourage Indian Ocean tsunami relief donations and allows taxpayers to deduct cash donations made to Haiti relief efforts on their 2009 tax filings.

“Today, Congress unanimously agreed to extend the tax deadline for charitable giving so Americans can continue to help the relief efforts in Haiti," commented Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D- Mont.). "In the days since the earthquake first struck, millions of Americans have donated millions of dollars to trustworthy organizations demonstrating the compassion and concern Americans know and the world expects."

"We developed this legislation to make it easier, and encourage people, to donate to the relief efforts in Haiti and I thank my colleagues for their strong support in the House," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) following the House vote.

“To the extent this legislation can encourage Americans to increase what has already been an outpouring of generous support for the people of Haiti, it deserves the support of every member of this House, the Senate and the President’s immediate signature,” added Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-Mich.).

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