A recently released
proposal for US tax overhaul included plans to get rid of the adoption tax credit,
support for adoptive families that has been on the books for 20 years. The
credit provides adoptive families up to $13,570 in tax savings per adopted
child.1
Adoption advocates are rallying for the continuation of the credit as it exists
for families who may not be able to afford adoption otherwise, a helpful tool
in helping children find permeant families of their own. (The amount of the
credit, as it stands right now, starts to phase out when families have an
adjusted gross income above $203,540 and is off limits once that income exceeds
$243,540.2)
Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth
Chapman, are adoptive parents - this op-ed from them regarding the proposed
changes recently appeared in the Washington
Post:
In 1997, the fabric of our family was forever altered after
Mary Beth and our 11-year-old daughter, Emily, visited Haiti. Emily was
profoundly moved as she began to understand the impact of poverty in new ways.
She met children in Haiti who, for many heartbreaking reasons, were unable to
be cared for by their biological families and had been orphaned.
For Emily, these children were her peers, and imagining life
without the family and support systems she knew felt overwhelming and unjust.
That trip was the beginning of our family’s journey. We
would soon welcome home three daughters through adoption — Shaoey, Stevey Joy
and Maria. Each has brought immeasurable joy, and we are forever grateful to be
their family. As the parents of six children, it’s impossible to overstate the
profound impact that adoption has had on our family. The journey has been a
hundred times harder than we ever imagined, but a thousand times more enriching
than we ever dreamed.
It’s one thing to hear that there are 15 million children
worldwide who have been orphaned, abandoned or relinquished. But when you are
face to face with children who can’t be reunited with their biological family
or find a family through adoption, statistics give way to a personal connection
— a child with a name and a story, with a desire to belong and be loved.
We have met hundreds of families who want to adopt, but
can’t do so because of the significant costs. The average adoption costs
between $25,000 and $40,000, and for many families, this is an insurmountable
barrier. Additionally, the ongoing expenses of providing adequate services and
therapies in post-adoption support can be extensive.
In 1997, with bipartisan support, Congress did something
remarkable to address this by creating the adoption tax credit. By providing a
one-time tax credit of up to $13,570 to offset adoption costs, more families
are able to adopt, helping address the great injustice of children living
without permanent, loving homes.
But the adoption tax credit is in jeopardy. The recently
unveiled House tax reform proposal would eliminate it.
Losing the adoption tax credit, a vital and practical
approach to overcoming the financial cost that prohibits many families from
adopting, would be catastrophic for thousands of American parents hoping to
adopt and the precious children waiting for a family.
Thousands of children have been adopted by American families
who have used the adoption tax credit, and to these families, this credit has
made all the difference. As adoptive parents, we want other families to have
the opportunity to provide waiting children with loving homes.
In a divided political and cultural climate, issues like the
adoption tax credit should unite us. The adoption tax credit can mean the
difference between a child being adopted or remaining in foster care. One thing
every American should agree on: We must prioritize anything we can do to help
children enter loving homes where they can grow up, learn and thrive in an
enriching environment. Without continuing support for this credit, children,
families, communities and our society will certainly carry the loss.
If Congress truly wants to reform our tax structure to
benefit American families, preserving the adoption tax credit is an obvious
step in the right direction.
If you are an adoptive
family, learn more about the adoption tax credit here, and access community
and support for your family by emailing orphans@saddleback.com.
If you are considering adoption, visit https://zeroby2020vision.com.