Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Tax Day Campaign

Dear Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Members,

Tax Day 2013 is just around the corner and this is a perfect time of the year to communicate with Congress about the Adoption Tax Credit.  We are encouraging all ATC Working Group members to activate your members, clients, and families, please use the attached letter to urge them to contact their Senators and Representative between Monday, April 15^th and April 30. The goal is to convey two simple messages:

1. Thank you for making the Adoption Tax Credit permanent

2. Please re-instate the refundable provision of the Adoption Tax Credit so that it helps more children and adoptive families

We have made this process very simple for you.  Attached is a sample letter for you to post and send out for individuals to send to their Members of Congress (MOC).  They can find their MOC here: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

The template letter will also be posted on www.adoptiontaxcredit.org and we will use the “Save the Adoption Tax Credit” Facebook page to promote the letter writing campaign as well.  

Thank you for taking action – let’s flood Congress with letters from the adoption community! 

With warm regards,

The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group’s Executive Committee

Children Are Waiting to be Adopted and Adoptive Families Thank You! (Word Doc)

Qualify and Claim the Adoption Tax Credit

Two documents from the US International Revenue Service (IRS) provide information to individuals on how to qualify for and claim the adoption tax credit for certain adoption expenses.

The first document, Adoption Benefits FAQs, explains the adoption credit for tax year 2011, including which expenses are qualified adoption expenses, who is an eligible child, when to claim the credit, which forms to complete, and what supporting documentation is required.  The information was last updated in August 2012, and is available here.

The second document, March 2012 Adoption Credit Phone Forum Questions and Answers, provides further details on when certain expenses are allowable for the adoption credit for tax years 2011, 2012, and 2013.  It also provides the maximum credit amounts and income limitations for those tax years, as well as specific requirements for domestic special needs adoptions and intercountry adoptions.  The information in this document was last updated in October 2012, and is available here.

Joint Council Update – Adoption Tax Credit FAQ

Given the complexities of the new Adoption Tax Credit, the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group, of which Joint Council is a member of the Executive Committee, a FAQ has been prepared.  The FAQ provides much needed information on the various aspects of the tax credit.  We hope you find it useful in providing an explanation of the tax credit to your adoptive prospective adoptive families.

The FAQ  will  be available on the Working Group’s website.  Our thanks go out to the entire executive committee but especially to NACAC and Voice for Adoption for their leadership and expertise on the FAQ.

Please continue to visit Joint Council’s website for additional updates and follow the activities of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group on Facebook.
Best Wishes,

Tom DiFilipo

Around the World in 60 Minutes

Join us for a new Webinar series on January 24th!

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar seat now!

Want the latest on Russia, the Adoption Tax Credit, Universal Accreditation legislation, and the Action Plan on Children in Adversity? Grab your passport! Jet around the child welfare world and discover all the latest news, and our role as a community in impacting the lives of children and families around the world. Can this be done in 60 minutes? Tune in and find out.

 

Title: Around the World in 60 Minutes

Date: Thursday, January 24, 2013

Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements

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Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

 

President Obama Passes Legislation to Permanently Extend Adoption Tax Credit

Washington, DC—January 4, 2012—Late Tuesday night, January 1, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8), legislation that included a permanent extension of the adoption tax credit. President Obama signed the bill into law Wednesday.

Since it was established in 1997, the adoption tax credit has helped thousands of American families offset the high cost of adoption or meet their adopted children’s special needs. The credit was set to virtually disappear as of December 31, 2012. Earlier this year, the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee established four priorities for an adoption tax credit that is inclusive, permanent, refundable, and flat for special needs adoptions.

“By making the adoption tax credit permanent, Congress has renewed its commitment to finding a safe and loving homes for children in need,” said Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). CCAI serves as the Secretariat of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee. “We are thrilled that three of the four priorities established by the Executive Committee were included in this legislation. Unfortunately, without making the adoption tax credit refundable, many adoptive families of foster children with special needs will not be able to benefit from the credit.”

The bill permanently extends the adoption tax credit and income exclusion for employer paid or reimbursed adoption expenses. While official estimates will be released later by the IRS, the projected maximum amount of the adoption credit for 2013 is expected to be $12,770.

The benefits of the adoption tax credit reach beyond the children who are adopted. A 2006 study cited by the Children’s Bureau found that taxpayers save as much as $126,000 for every child who is adopted instead of remaining in long-term foster care. Significant savings to society are also achieved because children who are adopted fare better than those who live out their childhood in foster care. With more than 100,000 children in U.S. foster care waiting to be adopted, and countless millions of children worldwide without families, the continuation of the adoption tax credit helps provide love, safety, and permanency to many of these children.

The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group is a national collaboration of organizations and individuals uniting to support the cause of adoption by advocating for the adoption tax credit. We believe the adoption tax credit is an important resource to help children find forever families and make adoption affordable for all.

Joint Council Update – Adoption Tax Credit Passes

Late last night the US House of Representatives passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act (full text) which includes a permanent extension of the adoption tax credit. As a more complete understanding of the law’s impact becomes available during this week, we will publish the details and specifics on how this impacts children, families and our Partner organizations.

This victory for children and families once again shows the need, value and strength of working as a united coalition. Our thanks go out to the more than 50 Joint Council Partners who engaged with us on the tax credit and helped make it happen.

Joint Council also thanks those members of Congress who championed the adoption tax credit and ensured that children and families will continue to benefit from this very important assistance. As a founding member of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee (see full list below), we also thank the more than 130 organizations involved in the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group for their diligent and important work with Congress and the Obama administration.

Please be on the lookout throughout the week for more information on the law’s impact and on our continued advocacy efforts.

Best Wishes,

Tom DiFilipo 

 The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group’s Executive Committee

• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
• Adopt America Network
• Christian Alliance for Orphans
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (Secretariat)
• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
• Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
• Joint Council on International Children’s Services
• National Council For Adoption
• North American Council on Adoptable Children
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
• ShowHope
• Voice for Adoption

Adoption Tax Credit

I’d like to thank our Hopscotch family for their continued advocacy for the Adoption Tax Credit, set to expire December 31, 2012, unless made permanent.   Below is the response to the family from Senator Brown (D) of Ohio.  If you have not contacted your congressman, please do so today.

“Thank you for sharing your support for the adoption tax credit.

The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act would prevent the adoption tax credit from expiring.  Any legislation that sensibly encourages trustworthy parents to adopt children deserves thoughtful deliberation.  Adoption can have an amazing impact on a child’s life and we must responsibly expand its role in our society.

Should this legislation come before the Senate for a vote, I will support it and work to ensure that it serves the best interest of children and hard working parents.

Thank you again for being in touch with my office. “

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

Hopscotch Adoptions Field Trip to Visit Congressman, Howard Coble

Last Friday, Hopscotch Adoptions staff took a field trip to visit our recently re-elected Congressman, Howard Coble.  For those of you that do not know Congressman Coble, he is truly admired and respected by all he has the opportunity to meet and work with.

Hopscotch officially presented the “Save the Adoption Tax Credit” to his office and asked for his support.  It was a great opportunity for each of us as parents and professionals to personally reach out.

Have you considered a family field trip to your Congressman’s district office?  If not, its a great ‘face to face’ opportunity to remind our elected officials of the real children and families their support means so much too. Visit your Congressman today!

A special thank you to Nancy Mazza, Congressman Coble’s High Point representative.  She is gracious and caring of all his constituents.  She is amazing!

Save the Adoption Tax Credit

ADVOCACY ALERT: FEDERAL ADOPTION TAX CREDIT

USE YOUR VOICE WHILE CONGRESS IS AT HOME IN YOUR DISTRICT

ASK YOUR TWO U.S. SENATORS TO COSPONSOR S.3616
& YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO COSPONSOR H.R. 4373

Dear Friend & Adoption Supporter:

As you may already know, if Congress does not act to extend the federal adoption tax credit (ATC) this year, the credit as we now know it will expire on December 31, 2012.

Members of Congress are back in their home districts until Congress resumes next Tuesday.  We encourage you to use this opportunity to reach out to your U.S. Senators and Representative about the Adoption Tax Credit. Right now it is important to engage your legislators about this issue, via a meeting, town hall, an email or a phone call, so that Members feel pressure to include the ATC in any deal that moves ahead in the lame duck session of Congress.

Imagine if Congress arrived back in Washington, D.C. and the Making Adoptions Affordable Act had 50 cosponsors on the Senate bill (S. 3616) and 50 cosponsors on the House bill (H.R. 4373)! This would undoubtedly convey a sense of urgency and bipartisan support. This goal is possible with your help!

Action:
We are contacting you today to ask you to email or call or visit with your two U.S. Senators and one Representative. Ask all three of your federal legislators to become a cosponsor of S. 3616/H.R. 4373.
Attached to this email you will find a helpful factsheet and a sample letter for emailing your Senators. If you need to find your Senator’s go to: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Please Email or Call:

• Email your two Senators – urge them to cosponsor S. 3616
• Email your one Representative – urge him/her to cosponsor H.R. 4373
• Or call the Capitol Operator at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to his or her office. Then ask to speak to the legislative assistant that handles adoption or tax issues.
• Then, let us know what response you receive from your legislators, email: info@adoptiontaxcredit.org

When will this be considered in Congress?
The Adoption Tax Credit is likely to be included in a package of other tax credits that need to be extended, and we expect such a package to be considered by Congress sometime after the election. At this time, it is uncertain whether Congress will consider including the refundable provision of the credit in an extension at the end of the year. We are working hard to get refundability included and need your help in showing Members of Congress that refundability helps foster care adoption and lower to middle income tax filers. One of the most effective ways to help is to highlight examples through sharing the personal stories of individual families and/or encouraging families to share their stories directly with their legislators. Another strategy to have the refundable provision be included in tax negotiations at the end of the year is to continue to build support for H.R. 4373 and S. 3616.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to contact your legislators on this important issue!

With warm regards,

The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group’s Executive Committee:

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Adopt America Network, Christian Alliance for Orphans, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (Secretariat), Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, Joint Council on International Children’s Services, National Council For Adoption, North American Council on Adoptable Children, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, ShowHope, and Voice for Adoption.

Additional Resources:

• If you have any questions, please refer to the very helpful FAQ page at: http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/

• The following link is to a great article highlighting the importance of the adoption tax credit: http://www.foxnews.com/…

• Also, “like” the Save the Adoption Tax Credit mission on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AdoptionTaxCredit

Adoption Tax Credit News

Click here to download “Views on Adoption Tax Credit: Do you believe the government should offer an Adoption Tax Credit for families who adopt?” (PDF)