2009 Tax Deductions Due This Weekend

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) is urging anyone still considering making donations to help the beleaguered people of Haiti to do so before Monday, March 1, 2010 if they wish to claim the donation on their 2009 tax return. In most years, you cannot take tax deductions on anything after December 31. But to encourage donations for Haitian relief, Congress passed a law allowing tax deductions to be claimed on 2009 returns for donations made before March 1, 2010.

“Americans have been extremely generous ever since the devastating earthquake in January shook Haiti, killed hundreds of thousands and left hundreds of thousands more homeless and mourning lost loved ones. The people of Haiti still need our help and will continue to for a long time as they rebuild their country. In response to the great need in Haiti and the generosity of Americans, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law a bill permitting taxpayers to deduct their donations for Haitian relief on their 2009 return - if they donate before March 1, 2010. In these tough economic times, Americans have stepped forward with their hard-earned money and this was a small, but effective gesture by the Federal government to ease the burden just a bit.”

To be eligible to file with 2009 taxes, itemized donations must be checks, credit card, debit card or cash, including texted donations such as for the American Red Cross efforts, and made before March 1. Donations of goods are not eligible. If you donated via text message, a copy of your phone bill will be adequate to prove donation. If you charge your donations to a credit card before the end of February, that counts even if you don't get or pay your credit card bill until next month or later.

“The Haitian people have a long road ahead of them, and I look forward to continuing to have the American people walk side by side with them on the way to recovery. I will continue to work hard to find ways to not only help the Haitian people but to make it easier for Americans to help,” said Rep. Engel, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the Jan. 12 Haitian earthquake. Deductions can be claimed on 2009 taxes or 2010 taxes, but not both.