{"id":7469,"date":"2017-05-31T15:34:07","date_gmt":"2017-05-31T19:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artistsunderthedome.org\/malc\/?p=7469"},"modified":"2017-06-05T07:24:01","modified_gmt":"2017-06-05T11:24:01","slug":"important-call-testimony-state-house-bill-1642-act-relative-artistic-contributions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/artistsunderthedome.org\/malc\/news\/important-call-testimony-state-house-bill-1642-act-relative-artistic-contributions\/","title":{"rendered":"Important Call for Testimony for State House Bill 1642-An Act relative to artistic contributions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Next week the State House Joint Committee on Revenue<\/a> will hold a hearing and one key bill MALC is following is on its list to be heard!<\/p>\n

House Bill 1642-An Act relative to artistic contributions<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0sponsored by Representative Chris Walsh.\u00a0The hearing is open to the public and written testimony can also be submitted if you can not testify in person on this bill. If passed, this bill would help artists of all disciplines.<\/p>\n

This bill would allow, in many cases, for an artist to deduct\u00a0an amount equal to the fair market value of a charitable contribution of any literary, musical, artistic, or scholarly composition, or similar property, or the copyright (or both)<\/span> made during the taxable year to a non profit charitable organization on their state income taxes. Currently artists can only deduct the cost of materials on their state and federal taxes for work they donate to a nonprofit\/charitable organization (this is only for donations to collecting institutions and does not cover donations to auctions).\u00a0Collectors\/patrons, however, can deduct the full fair market value of art they donate on their federal and state taxes.\u00a0\u00a0(Note there is a federal bill that has be reintroduced that would do this on a federal level if it is passed and H1642 is modeled on the federal bill*)<\/span><\/p>\n

The hearing details<\/a> if you wish to testify in person: \u00a0Tuesday, June 6th, 1pm in Hearing Room B-1<\/a><\/span> (directions to the State House<\/a>\u00a0and directions to hearing room\u00a0B-1<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n

MALC is urging\u00a0people to send in written testimony in support of House Bill 1642-An Act relative to artistic contributions<\/a>– by next Monday, June 5th, 5pm, so the committee staff can share it with the committee members before the hearing. Please send your written testimony via email to: anthony.sacco@mahouse.gov<\/p>\n

MALC is planning on testifying in person and will also be submitting written testimony.\u00a0Please share this call to action with others!<\/p>\n

—————————–<\/p>\n

How to address your written testimony:<\/p>\n

Joint Committee on Revenue
\nState House
\n24 Beacon Street
\nRoom 34 & 519
\nState House
\nBoston, MA 02133<\/p>\n

Dear Members of the Joint Committee on Revenue,<\/p>\n

I am writing in support of House Bill 1642-An Act relative to artistic contributions<\/a>– (explain why you are writing in favor of the bill and and it would benefit you if passes etc.<\/p>\n

Your name, address and contact info<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

————————-<\/p>\n

*From the Americans for the Arts website<\/a>: \u00a0In 2017, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) reintroduced the\u00a0Artist-Museum Partnership Act (HR 1830)<\/a>, which would allow artists to take an income tax deduction for the fair market value of their work when they donate it to charitable collecting institutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

“Prior to 1969, artists, writers, and composers were allowed to take a fair-market value deduction for their works donated to a museum, library, or archive. In 1969, Congress changed the law, and artists could only deduct the cost of materials used. The number of works donated by artists dramatically declined. The impact was immediate and drastic:<\/em><\/p>\n