Tax Breaks for Soldiers' Kin Nears Passage

WASHINGTON -- The families of soldiers killed during almost daily attacks in Iraq would get a $12,000 tax-free death compensation payment under a bill Congress is sending to President Bush, The Associated Press reported Thursday.

A perfunctory House vote scheduled for Wednesday night was the last hurdle to doubling the current $6,000 benefit and granting the death gratuity to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Military and reserve personnel steadily getting called for duty in Iraq also would benefit from new tax breaks on home sales, travel expenses and child care.

"It's long overdue," said Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas. "It's been a long time since 9/11, and we are trying to take care of our military."

The increased death gratuity, meant to offset the cost of a funeral and other immediate expenses, will be in addition to benefits already available to the survivors of soldiers killed in war. Families typically get payment from a $250,000 life insurance policy, a benefit that few service members choose to reduce or eliminate.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 11/6/03