For those who have or plan to donate to Haiti-relief organizations, the IRS has issued a special tax provision to allow you to deduct your cash donations on your 2009 Tax Return.  The provision includes those texted-in donations the Red Cross and many other organizations collected.  The law does not apply to property or goods donations.

(image taken from World Vision)

Donations need to be itemized on your “Schedule A” when you file, and they must have been contributed to Haiti relief after January 11th and before March 1st, 2010.

If you haven’t yet donated or would like to donate again, the IRS website has an online version of their Publication 78 that can give you a list of local charities or verify that donations to your organization of choice qualify as tax-deductible. 

Outpouring from the U.S. has, as usual, surpassed that of any other country in the world.  But the people of Haiti are still reeling and have a long road to recovery ahead of them.  So if you need one more incentive to give, here it is!