NJ bills call for $1K tax credit to organ donors

TRENTON, N.J. - A New Jersey lawmaker wants to offer tax credits to organ donors, but his no-strings approach is meeting opposition from groups who believe the practice runs afoul of federal law.

While the National Organ Transplant Act makes it illegal for hospitals to pay for organs, 19 states provide either a tax credit or deduction for verifiable, unreimbursed expenses related to living organ donations, said Troy Zimmerman, of the National Kidney Foundation. In some states, the benefit also includes the donor’s lost wages.

Donor groups who support a cost-neutral approach have raised issues with New Jersey’s proposal to provide residents with $1,000 in income tax credits for donating organs, or a $100 tax credit for donating blood, platelets or plasma because it does not specifically apply to a donor’s expenses.

“It falls into the category of well-intentioned legislatures looking to do something to increase the number of donors,” said David Fleming, president of Donate Life America.

Read more: http://www.app.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2017/04/02/new-jersey-bills-call-tax-credit-organ-donors/99957438/