ATLANTA — Georgia parents who are still waiting on their bundle of joy to arrive can now benefit from a new tax break approved by the state.
The state is now saying parents of unborn babies can claim them as a dependent on their taxes, Channel 2′s Candace McCowan learned.
A local attorney told Channel 2 the law needs a little more clarification.
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We spoke to a mom who says it is good news, but she also has some questions.
“It’s a lot to think about,” Carly Brown said.
It’s been two years since Brown had her first child, a little girl, and now she is ready to grow her family once again.
She knew this day would come, but didn’t anticipate a change in laws between her two children would add to the many concerns of a new mom.
“There’s been so many changes and what ifs that it can kind of make your head spin,” Brown said.
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It’s been just weeks since the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Georgia’s Heartbeat Abortion Law.
This week the Georgia Department of Revenue says because of the Heartbeat Abortion Bill, for the 2022 tax year parents can claim an unborn child with a heartbeat as a dependent personal exemption worth $3,000 for each embryo, once the heartbeat is detected.
“I would take advantage of any tax deduction or exemption that I was eligible for,” Brown said.
However, according to the state, relevant medical records must be provided.
We talked to one Georgia lawyer who says the guidance still leaves many questions unanswered.
“All it says is medical records — does that mean something as significant as an ultrasound?” “Is it something as small as a spike in HCG levels,” lawyer Jessica Cino said.
What happens if there is a miscarriage after the tax filing?
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“The other thing to think about let say there is a pregnancy and let’s say there is a later miscarriage — is that evidence of you filing an embryo going to be used against you potentially,” Cino said.
This leaves parents and lawyers concerned about what this all means.
“I think none of these issues to put it bluntly were conceived at the time,” Cino said.
“It really does weigh on my heart,” Brown said.
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