Obama Signs Bill for Haiti Donors

(AP)  Taxpayers will be able to write off charitable donations to Haiti earthquake relief efforts when they file their 2009 taxes this spring under a bill President Obama signed Friday.

The measure sped through Congress, receiving final approval Thursday.

Complete Coverage: Devastation in Haiti

Under current law, donors would have to wait until they file their 2010 returns next year to take the deductions. The bill would allow donations made by the end of February to be deducted from 2009 returns.

The hope is to encourage more donations. Mr. Obama has enlisted his two immediate predecessor - former President George W. Bush and former President Clinton - to help raise money for quake victims.

A similar law was enacted in 2005 for donations to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.

The White House announced this week that the president and first lady Michelle Obama donated $15,000 from their personal bank account to the Haiti relief effort.

[indiethink]

Maybe we need some clarification.

Money donated to children's hospitals, museums, shelters, food pantries, etc are still deductable charitable donations, just like they've always been.

Haiti was devestated by an earthquake in January 2010, but you can claim the deduction on your 2009 taxes.

When parts of Asia were devestated by the December 2004 tidal wave, congress and the president allowed donations made after Dec 31. 2004 to be deducted on our 2004 taxes.

This passed congress by huge margins. Support from both sides of the aisle because it is simply to encourage giving to folks way way way worse off than we are.

I guess some folks just enjoy complaining.

[jgg000101]

why shouldn't this apply if I wanted to make a donation to the Los Angeles Mission, or the Children's Hospital, or the Museum of Natural History?

[hockeymom441]

O-K, jgg00101.... L-E-A-R-N T-O R-E-A-D:
The deductions WILL apply to all charitable donations; the law simply accelerates that you can count it (for tax purposes) a year earlier than usual. Typically donations made in a calender year go to the following tax filing; the point here is to encourage people to donate now - b/c it's a CRISIS (250k+ dead, in case you missed that point).

The way they titled the article does make it seem like it's a "new" type of deduction.. probably just to bait Obama haters, like yourself (well done, CBS!). But if you had ANY experience in giving/donation, you'd have known better.

[jgg000101]

actually, you might learn how to research and read. Are you aware of the $12,150 per child tax credit for every haitian orphan adopted? Are you aware of charles schumer's 3 pieces of legislation calling for a 1 for 1 tax deduction on dollars donated to haiti instead of the standard 50%? No one is against providing aid to haiti. But when the government favors citizens of other countries over it's own I have a major problem with that.

[Stevenapoli7]

I am getting Haiti-fatigue.

[writer10]

good thing you're not a resident or you'd really be fatigued

[diamruby]

I see all the money that the people in America have given for Haiti & wonder why these same people have not come to the aid of their fellow Americans who have lost their jobs, homes, poverty stricken & homeless. We have have schools that are filthy & falling down, we have thousands of homeless, hungry & abused children, we have children that need to be adopted here also. Is the only reason they help is for the tax write off they will get? We give billions of our tax payer dollars to other countries year after year with none of them ever moving forward. This money given to the American people would put us all back in our homes, back to work & bring the USA back to what it was before the greed of some & the power of elected officials brought us to where we are today, jobless, homeless, no money, no medical & no relief in sight.

[writer10]

yup...your sentiment was a topic of discussion at the office yesterday -while it's very important to recognise and assist however we can, we never follow the rule of take care of your own first...if we were a healthier nation on every aspect you touched on, a lot more people would be able to assist others in need

[Tastes_Like_Chicken]

The President and First Lady donated money from their "personal bank account?" LOL! What other type of bank account could they pull money out for donation purposes? On the other hand, I guess it was important that the White House clarified this.

[writer10]

Hahaha!!! missed that but what an excellent point

[Tastes_Like_Chicken]

The President and First Lady donated money from their "personal bank account?" LOL! What other type of bank account pull money out for donation purposes? On the other hand, I guess it was important that the White House clarififed this.

[Tastes_Like_Chicken]

Let me be clear. Obama insisted the facts were quite different last year regarding charitable giving.

?Now, if it?s really a charitable contribution, I?m assuming [the lower rate] shouldn?t be the determining factor as to whether you?re giving that hundred dollars to the homeless shelter down the street.?

http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/7541/president-obama-stands-by-proposed-charitable-deduction-limits

[writer10]

right...why should it only apply to Haiti...it should apply to all charitable contributions period...problem is you get people taking advantage of the deductions...as is typical with every deduction allowance