Com’n Along, Let’s All Get H.A.P.P.Y.!

Happy Dog. Photo by Steve Carragher

How would you like to write off up to $3,500 annually for taking proper care of your pet? You might be able to, but we need to get busy before we can GET HAPPY!  

I received an advocacy alert from the ASCPA telling me about the HAPPY Act (H.R. 3501) proposed by Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI). The ASPCA supports this act, and so do the inhabitants of The Red Dog Inn! 

If passed, HAPPY will amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (specifically, Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1, add a  new section 224 and renumber accordingly.)  The new section 224 will read:

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–

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

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

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

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    `(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:

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  `Sec. 224. Pet care expenses.

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  `Sec. 225. Cross reference.’.

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

What YOU can do!

The proposed legislation is so easy to read, even a member of Congress can understand it! I encourage you to visit the link below and read it for yourself.

After reading it, I hope that you’ll contact your Representative and Senators and encourage them to SUPPORT the HAPPY ACT! Then, tell your pet loving friends about HAPPY and encourage them to contact their representatives, too!

If you get a response, let us know about it!

What the HAPPY ACT does:

If passed, HAPPY will allow pet owners to deduct up to $3,500 annually from their taxes for “qualified pet care expenses” starting in the 2010 tax year.  

Links:

ASPCA: https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2605 

H.R. 3501 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3501: