In a couple of weeks my uncle and I are going to go through my grandfather’s receipts and stubs and bank records to figure out his taxes from the first half of the year.
Last March, after gramma died, we did the same, and as I was going through all the receipts we kept seeing the same deduction over and over: $2.
Disabled Veterans of America? $2.
World Wildlife Fund? $2.
ACLU? $2.
NRA? $2.
Calvary Baptist Church? 10% of her annual Social Security checks. (An anomaly, but I had to throw it in there - she was the daughter of a Baptist minister from Norway who got his doctorate from the University of Berlin.)
Red Cross? $2.
Little Sisters of the Poor? $2.
You get my drift.
Me? Since going through those numbers my donations have gone from none to … um. Well, I sent $2 to the last mailing I received. Like 6 months ago.
Back when I had money, I’d give between $5 and $10 a month to Women’s Protective Services and the local Rape Crisis Center (what can I say, I feel bad that my gender victimizes women). Since I’m now a poor student and have no spare cash to donate, I volunteer my time to the Rape Crisis Center. Around 20 hours a month I answer the phone, and I go out on cases to the hopital when I’m needed. Just this Wednesday I went out on a case and transported medical evidence to the crime lab for the first time.
Folks, if you have spare time, volunteer. It’s not hard (usually), you’ll meet new people, and you’ll feel good about helping out.
I just got done with 20 hours of painting I donated to a Breast Cancer auction. I’ve also painted at the Colorado Aids Project building & a local animal rescue organization. Each was a tax deductible donation @ $40.00/hr. $12.00 a month to Colorado Public Radio. And since I’m moving soon, I’m going to donate an old car but I’m not sure where yet.
I spent seven years doing rape crisis counseling at Denver General, and I have fostered abandoned & abused dogs for a small local rescue. So I guess I’m more likely to donate time & effort than money.
Carina, it’s laudable that you painted for the Breast Cancer Auction and the Aids Project. I’m not sure who told you that each was a tax deductible donation, though.
From IRS Publication 526, “Charitable Contributions,” comes the following:
Contributions You Cannot Deduct
There are some contributions that you cannot deduct. You cannot deduct as a charitable contribution:
4) The value of your time or services,
Example: I do volunteer work 6 hours a week in the office of a qualified organization. The receptionist is paid $6 an hour to do the same work I do. Can I deduct $36 a week for my time?
No, you cannot deduct the value of your time or services.
So if you were planning to take an $800 charitable deduction for the time you donated to the Breast Cancer Auction and the Aids Project, be very careful. Even though you could easily get $40.00/hr if hired as a painter, if you are audited those charitable deductions will be disallowed.
Hmmm. Labdad, I’m dumb about such things and will bow to your greater wisdom…
I’ve never actually thought to deduct any of my time. On the cancer thing, I did get a form from the foundation…Perhaps this is allowable because it was auctioned & paid for as $800.00 in services? Many people auctioned things, & I assume those were deductible? If so, I think it’s a little chessy that someone can donate an end table they don’t want anymore & be granted a tax break, while I work my butt off for 2 1/2 days in the hot sun & don’t get a break.
No doubt about it, Carina, it IS cheesy. And 95% of the people who work their butts off for charity are denied the deduction because of the 5% who abuse it.
But, I’ve been working for charities a long time and can tell you the overwhelming number of people who give time or money to charity don’t take a deduction, even if they’re allowed one. Most people give to charity because they want to do good.
We usually make donations in about the $20-50 range to various charities that hit my wife’s or my hot button at the time. We decided this year to donate half of our $600 tax rebate back to charities that will most likely be hurt by this administration’s tax cuts, i.e. women’s reproductive rights, gun violence issues, etc. I encourage all of you to do something similar.
As far as tax deductable receipts, we don’t donate to get them, but we have no qualms about taking those deductions. We feel that the money deducted from our taxes is better spent on Planned Parenthood, the Special Olympics or something rather than it being put toward a B-1 bomber, postage to tell you your rebate check is in the mail, or a shipyard building billion dollar battleships which are already obsolete just because it’s in some powerful politicians’s home district. We look at it as having a little control in how the money is spent.
$100/year to each of our alma maters, and to each of two art museums. About that much (in total) to various basset-hound-related rescue organizations around the country.
$120 to United Way (goes to Planned Parenthood and Lamaze).
Miscellaneous smaller amounts to things like public radio and various fundraisers that people I know are doing (walks, charity runs), etc.
I will give no money to any charity that calls my home (except our alma maters–I expect those calls).
I give lots of time and money and donations to various organizations via Junior League. I send things to people off the Ebay giving board.
And yet when I add up what’s deductible, it’s generally less than 1% of our income. I feel like a real cheap-ass.