Haiti donation tax break clears Minn. House panel

A legislative tax panel approved a bill Monday that would let state taxpayers deduct donations to Haiti earthquake relief efforts when they file their 2009 taxes this spring.

View a list of organizations accepting donations for earthquake relief.

It would make state tax law match up with a federal law allowing taxpayers to deduct donations made by the end of February from their 2009 tax returns instead of waiting until next year.

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The House Taxes Committee passed the bill from Rep. Ann Lenczewski on a voice vote.

Lenczewski says the bill has received bipartisan support. She expects it to pass through the Legislature quickly.

The Haiti proposal is similar to a state law passed in 2005 to encourage donations to help victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

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