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United States Rep Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) introduced a new bill that could let you deduct up to $3,500 on your taxes for “pet care”. Yes that’s right. “Pet care”. However, there are some stipulations, what type of pet qualifies for this? “The term `qualified pet’ means a legally owned, domesticated, live animal.” We aren’t lawyers so we can’t really say if your imported angelfish qualifies as “domesticated”. But we wouldn’t mind an additional $3500 deduction on our yearly taxes. What about other livestock in our aquariums? You can read the full bill below the break.
Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act (Introduced in House)
HR 3501 IH
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3501
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 31, 2009
Mr. MCCOTTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 63 percent of United States households own a pet.
(2) The Human-Animal Bond has been shown to have positive effects upon people’s emotional and physical well-being.
SEC. 3. DEDUCTION FOR PET CARE EXPENSES.
(a) In General- Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the following new section:
`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–
`(1) QUALIFIED PET- The term `qualified pet’ means a legally owned, domesticated, live animal.
`(2) EXCEPTIONS- Such term does not include any animal–
`(A) used for research or owned or utilized in conjunction with a trade or business, or
`(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:
`Sec. 224. Pet care expenses.
`Sec. 225. Cross reference.’.
(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.
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This thing has 11 Comments
Sounds good to me, i think you guys need to put a petition supporting this bill.
I’m still pushing my Congressman to propose a Cash for Clunkers program for corals.
I’d like to trade in some green slimer for some nice LE Acros…
Wow… the wisdom of our government never fails to amaze me. They should focus less on handouts and more on doing the right things. I think the “I’ll take it because everyone else is…” speak volumes about someone’s character. I wouldn’t claim a single dollar just because I CHOSE to by fish. It’s a joke! I bet people would love to pay no taxes and then complain about the quality of a road, or there not being a police officer there when they need one. Ok, let the flaming begin…
Democrats introduce bills eliminating the hobby, republicans try at all costs to make our lives easier.
There is a metaphor hiding in there somewhere.
this would be GREAT!
“Democrats introduce bills eliminating the hobby, republicans try at all costs to make our lives easier.”
I’ve been waiting for my life to be be easier for 8 long years … wait, I don’t earn enough to qualify for my life to be made easier–they only introduce bills to make the lives of millionaires easier.
Hey guys,
I dont know if you realize this but the bill HR 669 wasnt meant to shut down the industry it was meant to make people more responsible when they bring in imported animals. This bill does not specify that fish tanks or fish will be included so before you go on a self richeous tax rant or a blaming one party rant, maybe some on reef builders can reach out to honorable legislator and find out.
Well for people like me who just take the standard deduction this won’t make a bit of difference. But in the grand scheme of things it makes owning a dog look more appealing as they’re expensive to maintain
Be careful, you need to define the most important words in this bill, “domesticated animal”.
Whilst you could claim a Goldfish is domesticated as it’s not a wild animal. Most tropical or marine fish are taken from the wild and so are not ‘domesticated’ by any stretch of the imagination.
“domesticated animal” Fish are NOT a domesticated animal. Dogs, cats, sheep, goats, cattle, horses are.
I’m pretty sure domesticated is defined as “any of various animals that have been tamed and made fit for a human environment”. Meaning fish would probably qualify. Though it’s unclear as to what expenses you would be able to claim, since you really don’t take your fish to the Vet..
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[...] could claim your fish on your taxes, up to $3500 You could claim your fish on your taxes, up to $3500 | Reef Builders -The Reef Aquarium Blog __________________ 34 GaLoN SolAna TEK 24" T5 LiGhtS VoRTecH Mp1o Good people drink good [...]