Sweet Charity

While your clients may not be Warren Buffetts donating billions to charity, you can help them maximize their deductions and better the world at the same time. Generally speaking, tax-deductible charitable gifts must go to a domestic nonprofit organization, trust, community chest, fund or foundation. Here’s a list of the types of charities and deductions the IRS finds acceptable.

CHARITIES

Religious organizations. Entities operated for religious purposes can receive payments for pew rents, assessments and dues. (See “Tax Reporting for Houses of Worship,” JofA, May06, page 71.)

Charitable organizations. Groups that exist for charitable purposes, such as the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, the American Cancer Society, the United Way, the Salvation Army and the YMCA or YWCA.

Educational organizations. Groups organized for scientific, literary or educational purposes, including hospitals, research organizations, colleges and universities.

Government organizations. Gifts for public purposes to the Social Security System, local fire departments or civil defense groups or committees formed to raise funds for developing a public park are all allowable deductions.

Other qualified organizations. Associations established to promote education, combat crime or aid public welfare, groups dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to children or animals and corporations established to provide legal services to the needy in noncriminal proceedings.

Note: You can check an organization’s status at www.irs.gov/charities/charitable.

ALLOWABLE DEDUCTIONS
Out-of-pocket expenses. The costs related to volunteer work, such as phone calls, postage and travel expenses.

Transportation costs. When using their own cars to travel to and from commitments, volunteers can deduct either a flat rate of 14 cents a mile or the actual operating costs.

Incidental expenses. Unreimbursed postage, the cost of stationery and other business supplies, telephone charges, the purchase price and cleaning bills for required volunteer uniforms that are worn only for that purpose—even the ingredients used to make something for a bake sale—may qualify. Federal tax law generally allows a deduction of up to 50% of adjusted gross income (AGI) for such expenses.

Cash contributions. To encourage monetary donations, federal tax law generally allows taxpayers to make deductible cash contributions of up to 50% of AGI.

Personal property. That desk, bookcase, computer or appliance gathering dust in the attic or basement can make an ideal donation—and deduction. Other personal property, such as books or old clothing in good condition, can be donated as well. So can artwork, collectibles and assets such as real estate, stocks and bonds. These deductions generally may not exceed 30% of AGI.

Source: Adapted from “Charitable Contributions: An Overview of the Deduction” by Jeremiah K. Murphy, CPA, www.jkmcpa.com.