Obama signs Slain Officer Family Support Act
Jeffries sponsored bill for taxpayers making donations to charities
President Barack Obama signed into law a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to change the tax deadline to allow people who donated money after Jan. 1 to charities that help the families of two slain cops apply for an immediate tax deduction rather than wait until next year.
The Slain Officer Family Support Act extends the tax deadline so that individuals making donations to organizations supporting the families of assassinated NYPD Detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos can apply deductions to their 2014 tax returns. Prior to the enactment of the new law, individuals would have had to make their contributions by December 31, 2014 to qualify for a tax deduction in connection with a 2015 filing.
The legislation, which was sponsored by Jeffries and U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island) extends the date of eligibility for a deduction to April 15. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) led the effort to pass the bill in the Senate. The president signed the legislation on April 1.