Taxpayers making monetary contributions in early 2010 to help Haiti after the devastating January 12 earthquake will be able to claim a deduction on their 2009 federal tax returns. The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 4462 on January 20 to allow taxpayers to claim a charitable deduction on their 2009 returns for qualified Haiti disaster relief contributions made after January 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010. The Senate approved the measure on January 21, and President Obama is expected to sign it when it reaches the White House. (from CCH Tax Briefing: tax.cchgroup.com/Legislation/HaitiEarthquakeRelief.pdf)