Call Your Senators about the proposed Tax Reform Bills!

There has been a great deal of activity in Congress as both houses work on developing a Tax Bill. The House has already passed their bill. The Senate’s bill is somewhat different, but both of them, if passed as is, could dramatically reduce the amount of contributions nonprofits receive from individuals.

KEY ISSUES OF CONCERN REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX BILL:
  1. The House and Senate recommend doubling the Standard Tax Deduction which would eliminate charitable deductions for 95% of Americans.
  2. This will cost nonprofits a loss of $12-20 BILLION in Charitable Donations
A RAY OF HOPE: Universal Charitable Giving Act

On Tuesday, November 14, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the Senate companion to the Universal Charitable Giving Act, which was originally introduced by Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) in the House in October. The bill would extend an above-the-line charitable deduction to non-itemizers that would be capped at one-third of the standard deduction. So, although nothing was included in the Senate tax package that would ensure more Americans have access to a tax benefit for charitable giving, Sen. Lankford’s universal charitable a deduction bill can still be considered by the full Senate, and perhaps even included in their final tax reform bill.

But it won’t happen without your help.

Momentum for tax reform is at a level not seen in 30 years and in its current iteration, charities will lose billions of dollars in charitable donations. Contact your senators and urge them to protect charitable giving in the Senate tax reform bill. Explain how doubling of the standard deduction will eliminate the charitable deduction for 95 percent of Americans and result in a loss of $12-20 billion in charitable giving. Tell your senator that the way to avoid this devastating consequence is to expand the charitable deduction to all Americans.

Even though the House has already passed its version of tax reform, contact your representative and relay the same information. The House and Senate versions of tax reform still need to be reconciled and your elected officials need to understand what the current proposals will do to charitable giving. More than ever before, now is the time for you to tell them how tax reform will affect your charities and community.

CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
  1. Tell them to vote NO to DOUBLING THE STANDARD TAX DEDUCTION because doing so will deny 95% of taxpayers the opportunity to itemize their charitable donations; and cost the nonprofit community $12-20 billion in donations.
  2. Urge them to pass the Universal Charitable Giving Act proposed by Senator Lankford and Congressman Walker.
  3. Tell them how many individual donors you have and how much you rely on their support so that you can produce your work for and provide affordable tickets to children and seniors!

You may want to also include these items:

  • Tell them that you do not support a Tax Plan that would, according to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, increase taxes for every group that earns less than $75,000 a year.
  • Tell your Senators that you do not want the Senate to pass a Tax Bill that repeals the Affordable Care Act! Remind them that many freelance workers and artists need the ACA to get health insurance.

 

NY: Chuck Schumer (212) 486-4430        Kirsten Gillibrand: (212) 688-6262

NJ: Bob Menendez (973) 645-3030          Cory Booker (856) 338-8922

CT: Richard Blumenthal (203) 330-0598   Chris Murphy (860) 549-8463

 

To find the name and contact information of your representatives go to https://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep_house

Click on the link to get to your Representative's website and call their Washington DC phone number.

 

 

IF YOU HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER STATES, PLEASE ASK THEM TO CALL THEIR SENATORS AS WELL.