Thanks to the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act, there are a few more days to donate to Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts — until Tuesday — and still receive a 2013 tax deduction.
Thanks to the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act, there are a few more days to donate to Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts — until Tuesday — and still receive a 2013 tax deduction.
The bipartisan Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act-cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), provides expedited tax relief for Americans making charitable donations to Typhoon Haiyan recovery efforts.
This new law allows taxpayers who donate to Philippine relief efforts before April 15 to take the charitable deduction when they file their 2013 tax returns.
The law also allows taxpayers who already filed their 2013 returns to make a donation and then file an amended return to still take advantage of this benefit.
The FilCom Center in Honolulu already collected nearly $700,000 for the relief effort.
Hawaii residents have a few more days to send a donation check to the FilCom Center (made payable to “FilCom Center — Aloha For Philippines”) or contribute online at www.FilCom.org/donate-2.
Donations will be contributed to the Consuelo Foundation, which generously agreed to match all funds given by the FilCom Center.
The Consuelo Foundation committed more than $3.3 million to Project H.O.P.E., which is helping disaster victims regain their livelihoods and rebuild their communities.
“It’s been five months since Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines,” said Constance Lau, chair of the Consuelo Foundation board and president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries. “Help is still desperately needed following the worst typhoon in the world’s history. I have seen the devastation first-hand and the need is almost overwhelming.”
For more information, contact Filipino Community Center fundraising Chairperson AJ Halagao at (808) 543-5889 or ajhalagao@hei.com; Aloha For Philippines at www.alohaforphilippines.com; Consuelo Foundation official Patria Weston-Lee at (808) 532-3939 or pwestonlee@consuelo.org, or Project H.O.P.E. at www.projecthopeph.com.