Charitable Deduction in 2009 for Haiti Relief

The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 4462 on 1-20-2010. This legislation would allow individuals who make charitable contributions to victims of the earthquake in Haiti 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. The legislation also includes a provision allowing those who text messaged a donation the ability to use a phone bill as proof of donation.