GAO Study on the Adoption Tax Credit

GAO Study on the Adoption Tax Credit
by SuzanneCWLA | November 22, 2011 at 5:07 PM

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just released a study on the federal adoption tax credit. From analysis of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data and documents, observations of IRS examiners, and interviews of IRS officials and other stakeholders, the GAO explored IRS’ communications, processing, and auditing strategy regarding the credit. CWLA and member agencies on our adoption advisory committee were among the stakeholders consulted for this report.

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and Representatives Charles Boustany (R-LA) and John Lewis (D-GA) requested the study citing the recent expansion of the credit and to identify possible improvements in advance of the 2012 tax year. The adoption tax credit was first established in 1996. The Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) increased its maximum value from $10,000 to $13,170 and made it refundable for 2010 and 2011. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-312) made changes to the law by extending the credit through 2012, but as non-refundable and with a reduced maximum to $10,000. In 2013 and following, it will be limited to special needs adoptions and only available for qualified expenses up to a $6,000 value. Since 1996, $4.28 billion in adoption tax credits have been clai med, with $1.2 billion claimed in 2010.

The GAO determined that in 2011 there was diverse communications approaches to tax preparers and adoption advocates, but identified room for improvement in explaining certification requirements. In addition, they found that over two-thirds of almost 100,000 taxpayers claiming the credit were audited by mail, and that four-fifths of those audited had filed the credit accurately and none were fraudulent. These audits caused the IRS to expend unnecessary resources and delayed refunds for families. The study concludes with an outline of approaches to avoid both confusion and ineffective process that led to unnecessary expenditures in low yield tax oversight in 2011.

http://childrensmonitor.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/gao-study-on-the-adoption-tax-credit/

Every Child Deserves a Family Act Briefing

Every Child Deserves a Family Act Briefing
by SuzanneCWLA | November 17, 2011 at 5:16 PM

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act (S. 1770) was the topic of a Congressional briefing today organized by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) office. Advocates from LGBT and Adoption organizations engaged in a panel discussion about the bill and its promise of expanding the number of eligible families for children awaiting adoption. Jonathan Gilead and Michele Jawando of Gillibrand’s staff started off the discussion talking about the Senator’s strong support of the bill .

Then, Emily Hecht of the Family Equality Council explained precedence for and the logistics of nondiscrimination policies. She described the ease of implementing S. 1770 by pointing to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) existing support and technical assistance regarding LGBT nondiscrimination in adoptions. Rhodes Perry of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) agreed that Every Child Deserves a Family is good policy and described how it will produce savings by shifting children in care to permanent families. Ellen Kahn with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) talked about her organization’s direct work with public child welfare agencies and how passing the bill would lift barriers to accessing certain training funds in addition to preventing case-halting discrimination by individuals work ing in adoptions. Nicole Dobbins of Voice for Adoption (VFA) described the youth waiting for adoption: that they tend to be older, have special needs, have been in several foster care placements, and are often in sibling groups. She attested to their strong desire for a permanent family without concern of the family’s make up.

Voice for Adoption holds an annual Adoptive Family Portrait Project engaging Congressional members in celebrating November as National Adoption Month. This year over 60 Senators and Representatives participated by posting a picture of an adoptive family from their constituency. The portraits depict a diverse group of adoptive families, including those headed by LGBT parents. The last panelist of the briefing was Mathew Reynell whose family portrait is posted in Senator Gillibrand’s office. Mr. Reynell and his partner adopted their son James from foster care just a couple of years ago. Mr. Reynell described the adoption process and how much positive socio-emotional and educational progress James has made since joining their family. He credits the love of a forever family as the best medicine for struggling children.
SuzanneCWLA | November 17, 2011 at 5:16 PM

http://childrensmonitor.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/every-child-deserves-a-family-act-briefing/

How evil can it get before it finally crashes? For some reason, I am reminded of this cartoon-

After 3 decades, family 'together again'

After 3 decades, family 'together again'
MIKE BLOUNT • American Staff Writer
  November 7, 2010

Rewarding States for Adoptions Part of the Problem

Lifting the Veil Blog
2010 November 6
Posted by ethoma

Rewarding States for Adoptions Part of the Problem, Rather Than a Solution

November is National Adoption Awareness Month

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, 
and the National Council For Adoption (NCFA) is tooting their horn about it.

When will there be an "Awareness of the War on the Family" month?