Give and you shall receive, as the saying goes. If you are considering a year-end gift of money or property to a worthy charity, here are some tips on maximizing your charitable tax deduction:
- Keep good records! Regardless of the amount of money given, meaning from dollar $1 up, the taxpayer must maintain a record of the donation made at or near the time of the donation. You can meet this requirement with a bank statement, a cancelled check, a credit card statement or a statement from the charity. Regardless of the form of the record, such record needs to show the name of the charity, the date of the donation, and the amount of the donation.
- If you make a single donation, of money or property, and it is worth more than $250 then you must get a written acknowledgement from the charity to deduct this donation. The written acknowledgement needs to contain the name of organization; the amount of cash contribution, if applicable; a description of any non-cash contributions, if applicable; a statement that no quid pro quo goods or services were provided in return for the contribution or, if goods or services were provided, a description and good faith estimate of the value of goods or services provided to the donor.
- If you make a gift using a credit card before midnight on the 31st than it is deductible in 2016 even if you do not pay your credit card until 2017. Similarly, if you properly mail a check on the 31st than it will also count as deductible in 2016 even if the check clears in 2017.
- If you are 70 ½ or older and you hold an IRA account, you may be required to take what are called required minimum distributions from a traditional IRA account. You can make a donation, up to $100,000, directly from your IRA to an eligible charity tax free. While you will not get a tax deduction for the contribution, the distribution is not taxable to you and qualifies as a required minimum distribution.
- If you are going to make a gift of household goods or clothing than such items must be in good used or better condition to be deductible. Damaged or stained goods and clothing will not be acceptable and hence deductible. Household goods includes such things as furniture, furnishings, electronics, appliances and linens. Items worth over $500 do not have to meet this “good used or better condition” if a qualified appraisal is done.
- If you are making a gift of property with substantial worth than you may need to have an appraisal to provide a proper value to use for your charitable donation. There are some complicated rules in this area so I won’t go into detail but if you intend to donate artwork, antiques or collectibles than you may need to meet other requirements to get full advantage of your deduction.
I hope you and yours have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and best of wishes in 2017!