Donation Deadline Approaches for Haiti Earthquake Relief
Anyone wishing to claim their donations for Haitian Earthquake Relief on their 2009 tax return must make those donations by the end of this week. Individuals and corporations have until midnight on Sunday, February 28th, to make cash contributions to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti. These contributions can be claimed on either a 2009 or 2010 return, but not both. Contributions made after that date but before the end of the year can only be claimed on a 2010 return.
Contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card qualify for this special option. Donations charged to a credit card before the end of February count for 2009. This is true even if the credit card bill is not paid until after February 28th. Also, checks count for 2009 as long as they are mailed by the end of this month and clear your financial institution shortly thereafter.
A bipartisan group of legislators, including Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI), Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC), and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), recently announced a plan to introduce new legislation that would allow individuals who make charitable contributions to Haiti earthquake relief efforts to claim an itemized charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return (instead of having to wait until next year to claim these deductions on their 2010 tax return). 
