bush H.R. 241 tax deduction tsunami relief

Statement on H.R. 241, Accelerating Income Tax Benefits for Charitable Contributions for Tsunami Victims

On Friday, January 07, 2005, the President has signed into law;

H.R. 241, which accelerates income tax benefits (deductions) for charitable cash contributions for relief of Indian Ocean tsunami victims. ###

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary January 7, 2005

"Contributions are deductible for the year in which they are actually made. However, under a new law enacted on Jan. 7, donors who itemize are allowed to claim on their 2004 tax returns charitable donations made during Jan. 2005 for the relief of the tsunami victims."
SOURCE: IRS

RELATED:

• H.R.241 tax charitable contributions relief tsunami - IN GENERAL- For purposes of section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, a taxpayer may treat any contribution described in subsection (b) made in January 2005 as if such contribution was made on December 31, 2004, and not in January 2005.
• tax deduction tsunami relief donations - Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today joined Sen. Max Baucus, ranking member, in announcing a plan to extend the period of time in which Americans can claim tax deductions for charitable donations to assist victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Southeast Asia on December 26.
• tsunami disaster relief tax deduction - U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined by Chairman Chuck Grassley, applauded the passage of tax legislation to allow extra time for Americans to make cash donations (deduction) to charities supporting relief operations in the Indian Ocean basin.
• Baucus and Grassley Applaud Passage of Proposal to Aid Tsunami Victims
• IRS Publication 3833, Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations (PDF 507K), explains how the public can use charitable organizations to help victims of disasters, and how new organizations can obtain tax-exempt status.

Rumsfeld Sergey Ivanov.

Rumsfeld, Russian Minister Discuss Tsunami Relief, Security Issues
By Terri Lukach American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2005 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today expressed America's sympathy to the loved ones of those missing or killed by the recent tsunami in Asia and praised the ongoing recovery efforts by the international community.

"We have seen the worst of nature and the best of humanity, Rumsfeld said in the Pentagon during a joint press conference with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Ivanov.

"Americans and Russians are working alongside thousands of others throughout the region to aid the recovery effort," Rumsfeld said. "The American people can be extremely proud of the professionalism and skillful assistance that is being provided by America's uniformed men and women."

Russia has sent teams of medical and rescue personnel to Sri Lanka at that country's request and has provided airlift for tents, blankets, water purification systems, and more than 25 tons of humanitarian goods. Russia is also assisting in distributing relief goods and searching for survivors.

Ivanov's visit today marks the 18th time in four years he and Rumsfeld have met to discuss U.S. and Russian defense and security cooperation and other issues of mutual interest to their two countries.

After meeting for more than two hours, Rumsfeld and Ivanov made brief statements and took questions from the media in the Pentagon Briefing Room. "As always, we have had good meetings," Rumsfeld said.

Ivanov agreed, saying the talks had been "meaningful, constructive and fruitful."

Rumsfeld said the U.S. and Russia share a continuing commitment to waging a global struggle against extremism and praised Ivanov's prescience about the terrorist threat.

"One month before the Sept. 11 attacks," Rumsfeld said, "Minister Ivanov spoke about the dangers of terrorism. In the last three years, we have seen extremists behead aid workers in Iraq, slit the throats of women hoping to vote in Afghan elections, and shoot Russian children in the back on their first day of school.

"These are times of great consequence for the entire civilized world," Rumsfeld said.

Ivanov said he and Rumsfeld were pursuing a "checklist" of items assigned to them by Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin to advance bilateral cooperation in the areas of defense, security and non-proliferation. As a result of the meetings, Ivanov said, the two countries now have "more cooperation, more confidence, and better transparency" in those sensitive areas.

Rumsfeld spoke briefly about the upcoming presidential elections in Iraq, saying that on Jan. 30, Iraqis will finally have the opportunity to choose their own leaders and their own future.

"The Iraqi vote," Rumsfeld said, will mark still another success for democracy and a defeat for the pro-dictatorship and extremist elements. The entire civilized world has a stake in these elections."

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT Secretary Rumsfeld Joint Media Availability with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov