adoption tax credit extended

Joint Council Update: Adoption Advocates support President's Proposal to Extend the Adoption Tax Credit Joint Council is pleased to announce that we have joined forces with a vast group of adoption organizations to support the President’s proposal to extend the Adoption Tax Credit. A Press Release regarding the letter is below. To view the letter to the President, please click here. Joint Council will continue to update our partners and supporters regarding the Adoption Tax Credit as the year progresses. VAST GROUP OF ADOPTION ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT PRESIDENT’S PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE ADOPTION TAX CREDIT Washington, D.C. – A broad group of adoption organizations from all sectors of adoption—including foster care, international and private—join together in thanking President Obama for his recent proposal to make the U.S. federal adoption tax credit permanent. The President’s Fiscal Year 2013 federal budget puts forth a proposal to make the adoption tax credit permanent and extend the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that make the credit refundable for 2012 and 2013. The refundable aspect is vital to some families’ ability to access the credit and there is broad support for ensuring that all families that adopt are able to benefit equally. More than thirty different organizations, some of which are membership umbrella organizations that represent additional adoption agencies, have come together to support the President’s adoption tax credit proposal, which will help families offset the cost of adoption or assist parents as they address the ongoing demands of caring for children with special needs. We have several stories that stress the importance of the tax credit’s existence for families. The adoption tax credit is a critical support for families who chose to form their families through adoption. The diverse groups that support the extension of the tax credit are working together to encourage members of Congress to move this from a proposal to tangible legislation. If Congress does not act to extend the credit, it will only be available to a limited number of families after 2012. Adoption is a bipartisan issue; in fact ever since the adoption credit was first established in 1996, Congress has acted to extend this credit every time it was set to expire. However, because the credit has changed several times and is frequently up for discussion, it leaves room for great confusion and uncertainty about the availability of the credit among key stakeholders, including professionals, parents, and tax preparers. Having a permanent credit in place will help eliminate future confusion. “We are all pleased to be working together, with a unified voice, to advocate for the needs of families that choose to adopt. We look forward to building the support on Capitol Hill to ensure that all families that adopt children have access to this benefit long term,” says Nicole Dobbins, Executive Director of Voice for Adoption. The organizations that signed onto the letter thanking the President are: Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Academy of California Family Formation Lawyers American Academy of Adoption Attorneys California Alliance of Children and Family Services Center for Adoption Support and Education Center for Adoption Policy Child Welfare League of America Children’s Action Network Children’s Home Society of North Carolina Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Families for Private Adoption Family Design Resources Family and Youth Initiative Gladney Center for Adoption Holt International Children’s Services Joint Council on International Children’s Services Kinship Center, a member of Seneca Family of Agencies Lilliput Children’s Services Mission Focused Solutions National Adoption Center National Council for Adoption North American Council on Adoptable Children North West Adoption Exchange New York State Citizens’ Coalition for Children RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Show Hope Three Rivers Adoption Council Voice for Adoption Sincerely, Rebecca Harris, Director of Programs & Services