Adoption Blog

Extended Tax Credit for Adoptive Families

Dear Families,

There is good news for newly adoptive families from the health care bill that was signed into law on the 23rd.  The adoption tax credit has been extended until the end of 2011 and increased from $12,170 to $13,170 for adoptions occurring after January 1, 2010 (it's retroactive).  Even better, the credit is now refundable.

Bill text:
See page 903 of 906 at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3590enr.txt.pdf
If you find the 2409 page version, its on page 2400.  It's the very last section. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3590

USA Today's brief analysis:

"Taxpayers who adopt children:  Effective in 2010, the bill makes the adoption credit refundable, increases the credit by $1,000 and extends the increased adoption credit through 2011." http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2010-03-23-health-care-taxpayers_N.htm

China Program Newsletter

All families in the paper-chasing stage, waiting stage, or referral stage of their adoption should have received a newsletter by email from their Family Coordinator today.  Any family who did not receive this email should contact their Family Coordinator. 

Families should be receiving communication from staff on a regular basis.  If your family is not receiving emails, please be sure to check your spam filter settings to be sure that emails from @awaa.org are allowed to be received.  If emails are not being received regularly, families may need to contact their email provider to see if their email settings need to be adjusted.

China Program – Dossiers Reviewed through April 2009

The CCAA has confirmed that they have completed the review of dossiers that were registered with their office before April 30, 2009. This means that families who were LID through April 30, 2009 have had their dossiers reviewed. The CCAA completed 12 months of dossier review. The timeframe for the dossier review process will vary as it is based upon the number of dossiers that are logged in during the particular month(s) that is(are) currently under review.

**Families should note that the CCAA will generally contact an agency when there is an issue with a family’s dossier, when it is being reviewed during the dossier review stage. Although a family may not be questioned during the review stage, a family could still be questioned at the referral matching stage, though this is less common.

Adoption Tax Credit Letter Template

Recently, in our Adoption Tax Credit Information post we encouraged families to contact their congressman or senator, in order to ask them to work to increase the tax credit for 2011 and all subsequent years, as it is a very important resource for many families.  (You can find your representative’s contact information at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.)

In order to make this easier for families, here is a simple template:

The Honorable FIRST NAME LAST NAME
U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives
OFFICE ADDRESS
Washington, D.C. ZIP CODE

Dear Senator LAST NAME:

My family and I are your constituents in NAME OF TOWN. We request your support of The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213 (FOR HOUSE) or S.2816 (FOR SENATE).

The adoption tax credit that this legislation would make permanent is very important to my family and me. Without this significant financial assistance, we would not have been able to adopt our beautiful son (or daughter), NAME.  I am including a photo of my son/daughter.

As you may know, adoption expenses can easily exceed $20,000, a significant sum to most families.  Without the adoption tax credit, it would likely be very difficult or impossible for many families to adopt.  Through this adoption tax credit, I believe that many more children will find new, loving families like my own.

I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 213 (FOR HOUSE) or S.2816 (FOR SENATE).  This legislation is very important to me and I, along with other adoptive families across the nation,  will be following its progress through Congress.  Thank you in advance for your support of this legislation that truly serves children who need families.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

China Program - Cut off Date for Referrals

The CCAA has completed matching for referrals.  Families whose dossiers were logged in April 6, 2006- April 11, 2006, have received their referrals.  The CCAA matched 6 days of LID’s in this group.

China Program Referrals Arrive

America World is pleased to announce that we received 3 China program referrals today! Families receiving referrals were logged into the CCAA on April 6, 2006 (group 258).  The little girls are currently located in the Guangdong Province and were all 6 months old. Please join us in congratulating these families, and in praying for them as they prepare to travel!

Dates Matched
The CCAA has not yet posted how many days of LID’s they matched for this group.  Once that information is posted to agencies, we will update families with that information.

Next Group To Receive a Referral
America World’s next group anticipating a referral has a log in date of 4/14/2006. 

Current Wait Time
The current wait time from LID to referral is 47-48 months with a trend of increasing from a half a month to a full month each month.

The Adoption Tax Credit Information

The National Council for adoption has released a helpful, practical guide to the adoption tax credit.  The Adoption Advocate No. 21 entitled, “Tax Benefits for Adoption: The Adoption Tax Credit includes a complete explanation of and examples of how to apply the tax credit, as well as details on:  the history of the tax credit; current status of the tax credit; and pending legislation to extend the tax credit.  Please Click Here to read Adoption Advocate No. 21. Families who have questions on the tax credit should contact their tax advisor as America World is unable to provide tax advice. Families are also welcome to contact their representative and ask them to work to increase the tax credit for 2011 and the years to follow as it is a very important resource for many families.  You can find your representative’s contact information at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.

China Program Update

Referrals

Dates Matched
The CCAA has posted the cut-off date for referrals.  Families who were logged in April 4-5, 2006 received referrals in this group.  The CCAA matched 2 Log in Dates this month.  Because America World did not have any families logged in on April 4-5 of 2006, we will not be receiving referrals at this time. 

Next Group To Receive a Referral
America World’s next group of families anticipating a referral have a LID of 4/6/2006.  Families with an LID of 4/6/2006 should anticipate to receive a referral in the next referral group that the CCAA sends.  We will continue to update families as new referral information is received.

Dossier Review

The CCAA has finished the review of dossiers and paperwork registered with their office up through April 30, 2008.  The CCAA completed two months of dossier review. The timeframe for the dossier review process will vary as it is based upon the number of dossiers that are logged in during the particular month that is currently under review.

**Families should note that the CCAA will generally contact an agency when there is an issue with a family’s dossier, when it is being reviewed during the dossier review stage.  Although a family may not be questioned during the review stage, a family could still be questioned at the referral matching stage, though it is less common.

Wait Time

The current wait time from LID to referral is 46-47 months with a trend of increasing from a half a month to a full month each month. Families should continue to anticipate a long wait for a referral. 

Additional Information

Any family interested in pursuing a concurrent adoption or the Waiting Children program should contact their Family Coordinator for more information. There are wonderful concurrent adoption options that are available while a family’s dossier is waiting to be matched.  America World’s Waiting Children program is also an excellent option for families who are interested in a boy, an older child, or a child with various types of medical or repaired conditions. 

America World encourages families to learn more about some of the needs of these children that are available for adoption at www.adoptspecialneeds.org or by emailing our Waiting Children program at waitingchildren@awaa.org

Chinese New Year Holiday

China is about to celebrate the new year and welcome the year of the tiger! The CCAA will be closed during the holiday which takes place from February 13th  through February 20th. Due to the holiday closings, AWAA will not be sending a dossier package next week. The next package going to China will be on Friday February 19th.  Families with questions can contact their Family Coordinator.

Request from the CCAA

The China Center of Adoption Affairs has asked us to see if any of our families would be willing to donate bottle nipples made specifically for children with cleft lip or palate conditions. Families who are able to help can mail these items directly to our office in McLean, VA where they will be sent to China with our traveling families.

We would love to be able to help meet this need through our families. Please contact Kristen.Hussa@awaa.org if you have any questions.