. Be certain that the charity is real. Several agencies offer information to help you evaluate the operation of charities:
- The Internal Revenue Service offers .
- Check a charity's 501(c)3 status with the IRS' . A charity must have 501(c)3 status if you plan to deduct your donation on your federal taxes.
- The attorney general in your state often licenses charitable organizations. They may also have records of complaints about charities.
- The offers reports about large charities and how they use their funds.
Types of Donations
Monetary
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayMake financial donations by check or credit card. These payment methods can help you keep record of your donations. They can also protect you from charity scams.
Goods and Personal Property
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm naySome charities accept non-cash donations, such as clothing and household items. Donate items that are in good (or better) condition. Keep a list of the items you donated, for your taxes.
Vehicles
You can donate your car, truck, boat, or other vehicle to a charity. An organization may give a donated vehicle to someone, use it for operations, or sell it at auction. If you donate a vehicle, you will need to transfer the title of the to the charity. Also, remove license plates and registration documents before you donate the car.
Other Property
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayYou may also give other types of items to charities:
- Art
- Jewelry
- Stocks
- Real Estate
- Patents
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayThe may need an expert appraisal. The values could depend on offers to buy the items and the timing of the donation.
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm naySome scammers set up fake organizations to take advantage of the public’s generosity. They especially take advantage of tragedies and disasters.
How to Report Charity Scams
Your state consumer protection office can accept and investigate consumer complaints.
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayFile a complaint with the (FTC). The FTC does not resolve individual matters. But it does track charity fraud claims and sues companies on the behalf of consumers.
Contact the , if the fraud is because of a natural disaster.
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayThe . But you can ask an organization not to contact you again.
How to Protect Yourself From Charity Scams
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nay to detect common :
Do
Check out the charity with your state consumer protection office or the .
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayVerify the name. Fake charities often choose names that are close to well established charities.
Don’t
Don’t give in to high pressure tactics such as urging you to donate immediately.
Don’t assume that you can get a tax deduction for donating to an organization. Use the to find out if it has this status.
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayDon’t send cash. Pay with a check or credit card.
. To deduct donations, you must file a with your tax form. With proper documentation, you can claim vehicle or cash donations. Or, if you want to deduct a non-cash donation, you'll also have to fill out a .
How Much Can You Deduct?
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayThe amount of money that you can deduct on your taxes may not be equal to the total amount of your donations.
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayIf you donate non-cash items, you can claim the fair market value of the items on your taxes.
If you donated a vehicle, your deduction depends on if the organization keeps the car or sells it at an auction. “” explains how your deduction is determined.
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayIf you received a gift or ticket to an event, you can only .
Keep Records of Charitable Donations
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nayTo claim deductions, it’s important to keep records of your donations to charities. You may not have to send these documents with your tax returns, but they are good to keep with your other tax records. Common documents include:
- of vehicle donations
- for cash donations
- for non-cash deductions
. The IRS has specific reporting requirements when a small business donates:
- Non-food inventory
- Food
- Intellectual property
You won't receive a tax deduction for donating services. But you may be able to deduct expenses related to the donation, like travel or materials.
Do you have a question?
Kết quả xổ số minh ngọc hôm nay
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
Last Updated:
December 17, 2020
