Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy

After December 31, 2012, the adoption tax credit will revert to a maximum credit of $6,000 for authorized adoption expenses, but only for special needs adoptions. In order to extend, or, make permanent, the current credit for all adopting parents, Congress must act this year. But because today's adoption tax credit was created as part of a larger tax reduction bill in 2001 (the Bush tax cuts) that expires on Dec. 31, 2012, the adoption community needs to begin educating members of Congress that making the adoption tax credit permanent has strong support in its own right, regardless of whether the larger tax cutting bill is renewed.

As a very good start in that process, the National Council for Adoption has put together a "Grassroots Advocacy Kit on the Adoption Tax Credit," which can be accessed here: https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/images/stories/NCFA_Adoption_Tax_Credit_Advocacy_Kit.pdf. The information and "how to" recommendations in the Advocacy Kit are useful and provide an excellent overview of the adoption tax credit. We are urging everyone to write personalized letters or send the sample letter in the Kit, to each of their Senators and to their Representative in the House expressing their strong support for making the current adoption tax credit permanent and available for all types of domestic and intercountry adoptions.

Without the adoption tax credit, many parents hoping to adopt will not be able to without great financial hardship and many others will not be able to adopt at all. Please make your voice heard in order to help make the adoption tax credit permanent!