Proposed Tax

[cynsir]

for Pet Expenses starting 12-31-09

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Woo Hoo

Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act (Introduced in House)

HR 3501 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3501

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 31, 2009

Mr. MCCOTTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 63 percent of United States households own a pet.

(2) The Human-Animal Bond has been shown to have positive effects upon people's emotional and physical well-being.

SEC. 3. DEDUCTION FOR PET CARE EXPENSES.

(a) In General- Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the following new section:

`SEC. 224. PET CARE EXPENSES.

`(a) Allowance of Deduction- In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the qualified pet care expenses of the taxpayer during the taxable year for any qualified pet of the taxpayer.

`(b) Maximum Deduction- The amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) to the taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $3,500.

`(c) Qualified Pet Care Expenses- For purposes of this section, the term `qualified pet care expenses' means amounts paid in connection with providing care (including veterinary care) for a qualified pet other than any expense in connection with the acquisition of the qualified pet.

`(d) Qualified Pet- For purposes of this section--

`(1) QUALIFIED PET- The term `qualified pet' means a legally owned, domesticated, live animal.

`(2) EXCEPTIONS- Such term does not include any animal--

`(A) used for research or owned or utilized in conjunction with a trade or business, or

`(B) with respect to which the taxpayer has claimed a deduction under section 162 or 213 in any of the preceding 3 taxable years.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the last item and inserting the following new items:

`Sec. 224. Pet care expenses.

`Sec. 225. Cross reference.'.

(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.

[cynsir]

Here's a bill that the House Ways and Means is looking at. We need to let our senators and house representatives and the House Ways and Means Committee that we are definitely behind this bill. Here's a link for the US senators

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information


Here's on for the House Representatives

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

And here's the one for the House Ways and Means Committee

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/members.asp?cong=19

Please take 10 minutes to write to these individuals letting them know that you are behind this bill HR3501 and would like to see it passed this year.

[JesBred]

Ok I'm not good with government stuff but from what I can understand they might allow us to claim pet expenses on taxes?? :confused:

THAT'D BE AWESOME!! :yay_jump:

[bek74]

WOW, that is great news (wished it applied to people who live in Australia), how cool is that, so many people will benefit:D

[bek74]

Ok I'm not good with government stuff but from what I can understand they might allow us to claim pet expenses on taxes?? :confused:

THAT'D BE AWESOME!! :yay_jump:

I think that is what she is saying and you can claim up to but not exceeding $3,500.

[MalteseJane]

Ya, but it might be only in Minnesota where she is at.

[cynsir]

Sorry folks the second part of that message was lost. This bill is sitting in the House Ways and Means Committee. We need to generate enough noise so that this bill is passed. You need to contact your senators and House Reps that you are behind this bill and want to see it passed. You should also contact the House Ways and Means Committee itself and voice your opinion. Here are the links:

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/members.asp?cong=19

The folks at YorkieTalk are already working on this, so if you could contact your senators and house rep and the Ways and Means committee, maybe we might get this passed. If you know anyone else or any other group that could benefit, please let them know.

By the way it is not just for Minnesota. Good Luck!

[cynsir]

No it is not just in Minnesota. This is sitting in the United States Ways and Means Committee and if passed anything after 1/1/10 would be affected. So please, please contact your senators, house reps, and the Ways and Means Committee.