House Unanimously Passes Haiti Donation Bill

The House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would allow taxpayers to accelerate deductions for charitable contributions made for relief of victims of the earthquake in Haiti (HR 4462). Under the bill, taxpayers could deduct donations made in 2010 on their 2009 returns.

Donations covered by the bill are cash contributions made after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, for the relief of victims in areas affected by the earthquake in Haiti on Jan. 12. To qualify for acceleration into the 2009 tax year, the donation must qualify as a deductible charitable contribution under IRC § 170.

Many taxpayers are making donations through text messages, and the bill would allow such donations to be substantiated by a telephone bill showing the name of the donee organization, the date of the contribution and the amount of the contribution.

It was unclear Wednesday afternoon when the Senate would take up the bill.