WASHINGTON, D.C. – Veteran service organizations (VSO) help veterans transition back to civilian life, take care of military families, and provide a community that honors their time in the armed forces. Under current law, donations to a VSO are not tax-exempt if over 10 percent of its membership are not classified as “wartime veterans,” a category that includes 2.4 million veterans. This unfair distinction particularly hurts VSOs serving veterans of recent wars, like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Introduced by Ways and Means Committee members Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), the VSO Equal Treatment (VETT) Act treats all VSOs equally by allowing deductible charitable contributions to all federally chartered tax-exempt organizations that serve current and former members of the Armed Forces. 

The legislation passed the Ways and Means Committee unanimously and awaits a vote by the House of Representatives.

AMVETS

Military Order of the World Wars

Jewish War Veterans of the United States