A tax credit for pet expenses?

by Rossputin | 3:00 am, October 14, 2009 | Comments Off

I’m not making this up: Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, a fairly conservative Republican from Michigan has introduced H.R.3051, the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (“HAPPY”) Act, proposing to make pet care expenses tax deductible.

This is, of course, based on sound Congressional findings, to wit:

(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.

I love this bill…because it is so utterly ridiculous.

There are few things as likely to shake Americans out of their tax code stupor, few things as likely to make people pay attention to the daily abuse of the tax code, than Congressmen proposing tax breaks like this.  In fact, part of me thinks that Congressman McCotter only proposed the bill for this reason.  (Actually, I’m fairly certain McCotter is serious because he also sponsored a House Resolution regarding National Dog Bite Prevention Week.)

In case you’re curious, here’s the operative portion of McCotter’s bill (which will almost certainly never come up for a vote):

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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink ‘

‘(b) Maximum Deduction- The amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) to the taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $3,500.

‘© 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.’.

It’s OK.  You can stop laughing (or crying) now.

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