Employees who can opt to donate their unused leave to organizations helping these victims will not be taxed on what would otherwise be taxable compensation. However, they cannot take a charitable contribution deduction for the donation. The employer will see that the donations are sent to IRS-approved charities.
Note: The last time the IRS granted this favorable tax treatment for donations of unused leave was in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
A husband and wife who are required to live apart from each other by the terms of a decree of separate maintenance. Payments under the decree are deductible by the payor and taxable to the payee as alimony.