Minnesota Tax Laws
Recently the House of Representatives and the Senate passed legislation permitting American citizens and certain corporations to deduct donations to relief in Haiti from their 2009/10 income tax returns. However the Minnesota legislature has not made up their mind on whether to go along with this legislation. Minnesota tax laws do not allow Minnesotans to make contributions in 2010 now from their 2009 return. Hearings on adding this legislation to the Minnesota tax law will take place at the next Minnesota legislative session. It has been suggested that Minnesotans taxpayers may want to hold off on filing their returns until after this matter has been dealt with if they choose to donate to the Haiti relief.
The debate has become frustrating for some because they feel that the Minnesota tax law should not differ from federal tax law. This not the only problem that Minnesota tax laws have caused. Last year Minnesota was late in paying over 120 million dollars in corporate tax refunds to over 450 companies. Minnesota tax laws also delayed more than 10 million dollars to more than 300 other companies. Some believe that these issues were caused by collections of in company’s income that were hundreds of millions of dollars less than expected.
The earthquake in Haiti is one of the worst national disasters our world has ever seen. The United States has come together in unprecedented ways in order to help the Haitian people in any way they can. Citizens of Minnesota are frustrated that because of Minnesota tax laws, their efforts are going unnoticed for the time being.
The Minnesota tax law could adopt the new legislation as soon as this week. Minnesota tax law has been flawed in the past. However, many are optimistic that due to the problems of the past and the urgency of this matter, Minnesota tax law will act quickly. Haiti needs America’s help. Rebuilding Haiti will take years, but before we do that we must make sure there is enough food, water and essentials in order for the Haitian people to survive. The history and politics of Haiti should have no influence on the aid they receive. This earthquake killed many innocent people and it is up to us and other wealthy and fortunate countries to do our part in helping the Haitian people. Americans have always risen to the occasion. Whether it was after Pearl Harbor, the Kansas City bombing, 9/11 or any other disaster in our history; Americans are unmatched when coming together to help the fellow common man.
