Donating to Charity

If you support certain causes throughout the year, your gift might be tax deductible and reduce any tax you owe.  If you want to claim a tax deduction for your charitable donations, you must itemize your deductions.  Also, the donations must meet certain requirements to qualify for a deduction.

Qualified charities. You can only deduct donations to qualified charities.  Qualified charities meet exemption requirements under the IRS Tax Code 501(c)(3).  The non-profit organization is exempt from federal income tax if its activities have the following purposes: charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literacy, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition or preventing cruelty to children or animals.  When donating, please check to make sure the charity has a 501(c)(3) status.

Monetary donations. Gifts of money include those made in cash or by check, electronic fund transfer, credit card and payroll deduction.  You must have a bank record or a written statement from the charity to deduct any gift of money on your tax return.

Household goods. Donated clothing and household items generally must be in at least good condition to be claimed as a tax deduction.  If you claim a deduction of over $500 for an item, it doesn’t have to meet this standard as long as you include a qualified appraisal of the item with your tax return.

Records required. You must get an additional acknowledgement from a charity for each deductible donation (either money or property) of $250 or more.  Additional rules apply to the statement for gifts of that amount.  This statement is in addition to the records required for deducting cash gifts.  For any contribution of $250 or more, you must obtain and keep  in your records a written acknowledgment from the organization indicating the amount of the cash and a description of any property contributed.

Special rules apply to donations of certain types of property such as automobiles, inventory and investments that have appreciated in value.  For more information, refer to Publication 526, Charitable Contributions.