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PA Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Tax Credit

Barbara Dreves

Updated: Mar 24, 2020

This post is personal to me. Riley Balcita, my 10 year old son, was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia when he was 8. He fought for 2 very long years and had his bell ringing October 10, 2018. What a happy day. We were done. He was clear of cancer. We thought we would be able to move on…However we were very wrong. On January 9, 2019 just 3 short months later, he had a blood test to find out it was back and now needs a bone marrow transplant. His older brother, Qai age 13, was the #1 choice for a match. I nor his dad would be tested as we were less likely to be a match since siblings are only 25% possible matches plus they don't like using donors over the age of 44. We got the news that Qai was not a match and now we need to go out for a global network to find a donor.


I'm writing this article to ask anyone who is willing to register to be a donor, to register. Go to www.BeTheMatch.org/join. They ask you some quick questions when you sign-up. If you pass the initial screening, they will send you a free kit. The initial testing is just a swab of the cheek and then you are entered into the national registry. Be The Match will contact you if you are a match. Once they contact you, additional testing is done via blood testing. If you are chosen, then it is an out patient procedure. They take the bone marrow, fly it to the patient and you are a hero.


So now your thinking, I've got to take off work for this. Well, here is a way to persuade your boss to let you go. PA employers can get a tax credit for giving you the time off for organ and bone marrow donations. They receive a credit in the amount of the employee's wages during the leave, the cost of temporary help while you are gone, and certain expenses incurred in connection with the leave. This credit is non-refundable and if not used in the year of donation can be used for up to 3 tax years.


If your not a PA resident, here is a link for a summary of what other states are doing for donors https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/LD_Tax_Ded_Leave_5_23_18.pdf


Please contact me at barb@calc-you-later.com if you have any questions or need additional information.


Please be a hero and save a life.


Some people have been told that they don't qualify as a donor and have asked how else they can help. If you would like to help out financially, check out Riley's Go Fund Me page https://www.gofundme.com/g8-rally-for-riley


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