Senate Passes Acceleration of Haiti Charitable Contribution Deductions

On January 21, 2010, the Senate approved by unanimous consent legislation to allow individuals to claim a deduction on their 2009 tax returns for qualified cash Haiti disaster relief contributions made after January 11 and before March 1, 2010. The contributions would have to be made to U.S. charities actively involved in Haiti relief efforts. A cell phone statement that showed the date, amount, and recipient of the contribution would serve as adequate support for the deduction. The House passed the measure a day earlier, on January 20, 2010. The measure now goes to President Obama, who has indicated that he will sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches his desk.