Help Stop the Taxidermy Tax Scam!

Great news! Thanks in part to an undercover HSUS investigation, the U.S. Senate has taken steps to end a tax scam that has allowed trophy hunters to  write off their big game safaris at taxpayers' expense. Our investigation revealed wealthy hunters killing a few "extra" animals, donating the trophies to pseudo-museums (sometimes the "museums" are literally in someone's basement or even abandoned railroad cars), then inflating the value of these trophies and taking a huge tax deduction for their "charitable" contribution. This scam, which operates as a sort of  "frequent-slayer program," is sickening and now we have a chance to close this loophole.

As part of a major "tax reconciliation" bill, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) tightened up the part of the current tax code that deals with charitable donations. Instead of just taking trophy hunters at their word, the IRS will now require proof of the actual market value of their trophies, and they won't be able to write off the travel costs anymore. Closing this loophole will save millions of taxpayer dollars and stop the taxidermy tax scam. The tax reconciliation bill passed the Senate yesterday and the House may vote on it today.

Please make a brief, polite phone call right now to your U.S. Representative in Washington, D.C. and ask them to support the Grassley taxidermy tax scam language. Worried about making a phone call? It's simple! Your call will take no more than two minutes. You will speak to a staffperson who can take your message and pass it along to your Representative. You can reach your Representative through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or at their office number below.

Rep. Mike Rogers
(202) 225-4872

Not sure what to say? Here's a sample phone call script:

"Hello, I'm calling from [your town and state] to let you know I've heard that the House has a chance to close the taxidermy tax scam loophole that allows wealthy trophy hunters to write-off their big game safaris. I urge [your Representative's name] to support Senate Chairman Grassley's language in the final tax reconciliation bill, which will close this loophole and save the country more than 40 million dollars. Thank you."

It is critical that your U.S. Representative hear from you right now. Your action has already done so much to help improve the lives of animals this year. Please help us win one more amazing victory for the animals this year.

Thank you,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

P.S. Please visit our website for the full story on our trophy hunting investigation and see the shocking undercover footage.