Happy New Year!
By Elizabeth Ehlen, 1/3/10
Happy New Year from your friendly staff at A Gift of Hope Adoptions! I'm putting a link below to the IRS website that gives you information about the adoption tax credit for you fortunate families who completed an adoption last year. I cannot stress enough that you need to check with your accountant to look up additional possible helpful financial information about adoption expenses. Many states have additional tax credits for children who qualify as "special needs" according to the federal Title IV-E definition, and there may be additional help provided by your state that only a local accountant would be aware of or could find out about. You also may be able to claim expenses from an adoption failure, so ask about that as well.
Also, I realize many of you are disappointed that you had an adoption failure last year, or that you were not chosen by birth parents to adopt their child. Hopefully 2010 will be your year, however keep in mind that you cannot "resolve" to adopt a child in any given year. Just like giving birth biologically, adoption is a process and involves a measure of risk and embracing of the unknown. In fact, parenting in general involves risk, expense, and the unknown. No one can predict what direction your journey will take, but we will join you in hoping for your eventual success and will work with you as best we can towards that success. Remember, we want to place children in good homes, but most of the time it is the birth moms who choose, not us. So while we understand your frustration, try not to take it out on your social worker, lawyer and agency staff, okay?
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html
