In correspondence to French physicist Jean-Baptitse Le Roy in 1789, Benjamin Franklin observed, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain except for death and taxes." Well, if you're not dead, your federal income tax return is due April 15.Regardless of whether you requested an extension by filing Form 4868, your federal income taxes for 2009 are due April 15. Uncle Sam wants your money.
The Bush Recession has spelled few major changes for the 2009 tax year. If, though, you contributed money to the Haitian relief effort after January 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010 and itemize your deductions, your donation to assist survivors of the Haitian earthquake can be claimed as a contribution for tax year 2009. Seriously. (This isn't an April 1 posting.) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explains on its website:
The contribution must be made to a qualified organization and meet all other requirements for charitable contribution deductions. However, if you made the contribution by phone or text message, a telephone bill showing the name of the donee organization, the date of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution will satisfy the record-keeping requirement. Therefore, for example, if you made a $10 charitable contribution by text message that was charged to your telephone or wireless account, a bill from your telecommunications company containing this information satisfies the record-keeping requirement.
Unfortunately, you cannot claim the two bucks that you stuffed in the jar at Dick's for Haitian earthquake relief.
If you have tax-related questions, search the IRS website at:
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