The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing legislation that would close a loophole in the tax code that allows hunters to deduct the costs of hunting trips. If the Senate passes it as well and signs it into law, this legislation can help save rare wildlife and save taxpayers an estimated $43 million over the next ten years.
H.R. 4, the new Pension Protection Act, includes a provision that prevents trophy hunters from donating their mounted prizes to pseudo museums and writing off all costs associated with acquiring the animal. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has advocated for language specifying that trophy mount donations must have comparable sale data to accompany IRS tax forms claiming the donation. The pension bill passed the House by a vote of 279 to 131.
The safari swindle involves a big-game hunter shooting an exotic animal in Asia, in Africa, or at a drive-through canned hunt here in the United States and writing off his hunting trip at the expense of the IRS and American taxpayers, said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Humane Society of the United States. This is fraud, and Congress needs to make the law unambiguous to deter individuals from engaging in this tax dodge.
The HSUS, the nations largest animal protection organization, is a mainstream voice for animals. For more information, visit www.hsus.org.
Posted: August 04, 2006, 5 a.m., EST