As if the photos and videos of earthquake-torn Haiti weren’t enough incentive to donate generously to relief efforts, the U.S. Congress is offering Americans another one: A tax deduction on their 2009 returns. 

The Senate today approved a bill passed yesterday in the House that would allow taxpayers to deduct charitable donations made after January 11 and before March 1, 2010 on their 2009 tax returns. Congress did something similar after the devastating tsunami that hit countries on the Indian Ocean at the end of 2004.

To qualify, the donations must be monetary—not sold securities or used clothing, for instance—and must be to a qualifying domestic charity that is assisting Haiti. In a nod to the wave of text donations that has led to record giving, the bill allows taxpayers to use their mobile–phone bills to substantiate donations. The bill must show the name of the organization, the date of the contribution, and the amount. 

In other news, major credit-card companies—American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa—have agreed to waive transaction fees charged to selected charities for donations using their cards. (Click on the names of the cards to link to press releases detailing which charities qualify.) Most waivers are good through the end of February. The credit-card companies also have announced donations themselves—not a bad public-relations strategy in light of all the criticism of late regarding fees and penalties and other tricks. 

The major mobile-phone carriers have said they would waive per-call fees for donations from plans that normally carry such fees. Several also have announced they will expedite text-donation funds immediately to Haiti relief charities, rather than waiting until after donors pay their mobile-phone bills. Normally, the payment process can take up to 90 days.—Tobie Stanger

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