Donations for Haiti Relief are now deductible on your 2009 Tax Return
The Internal Revenue Service has announced that taxpayers who donate to charities providing relief to the victims of the recent Haiti earthquake can claim the deduction on their 2009 tax return that is due April 15, 2010.
Taxpayers who will be itemizing deductions on their 2009 tax return qualify for this special tax relief provision, which was signed into law by President Obama on January 22, 2010. Contributions made in the following ways are deductible immediately:
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
- Debit Card
- Text Message
In addition, the contributions must be made specifically for relief of victims in areas affected by the earthquake and they must have been made after January 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010 to qualify for immediate deduction. Cash donations made after the March 1st deadline and donations in other forms (food, clothing, etc.) can be deducted on the 2010 tax return that is due April 15, 2011.
Federal law requires that taxpayers keep a record of any deductible donations that are made. If the donation was made by text, please keep a copy of the phone bill as proof of your donation. For cash contributions or those made by check, please keep either a copy of the canceled check or a receipt from the charity showing the name of the charity and the date and amount of the contribution.
Please be sure that the organization that you are contributing to is a qualified charity. Most organizations that are eligible are listed on the IRS website on their Search for Charities page. Some organizations, such as churches and governments, may be qualified even though they are not listed on the website. Charitable donations made to foreign charities are generally not tax-deductible.
The damage and destruction in Haiti has been severe, and it is not often that the IRS makes special provisions such as this, which demonstrates even more how much of a need for help there truly is. Please take this opportunity to help those in need.
Some qualified charitable organizations that are currently providing earthquake relief in Haiti that will allow you to donate online are:
- The American Red Cross
- The Salvation Army
- United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Music for Relief
- Doctors without Borders
- Save the Children
- Food for the Hungry
- Habitat for Humanity
- The American Jewish World Service
- Water Missions International
As always, please contact us if you have any questions regarding the tax deductibility of your donations or any other tax matter.