Comments on: Ask the taxgirl: Where to Report Charitable Contributions http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:16:58 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-10794 Kelly Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:19:30 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-10794 Whether your aunt can take the charitable deduction is less a function of how much she makes and more a function of what kind of form she files. Charitable deductions are claimed, together with other deductions such as real estate taxes, medical expenses and mortgage interest deductions on a Schedule A, for those taxpayers who itemize. If your aunt does not itemize her deductions (meaning she is better off taking the standard deduction), then she cannot take advantage of the charitable deduction. She is, however, still doing a good thing! Whether your aunt can take the charitable deduction is less a function of how much she makes and more a function of what kind of form she files. Charitable deductions are claimed, together with other deductions such as real estate taxes, medical expenses and mortgage interest deductions on a Schedule A, for those taxpayers who itemize. If your aunt does not itemize her deductions (meaning she is better off taking the standard deduction), then she cannot take advantage of the charitable deduction. She is, however, still doing a good thing!

]]> By: Shonda http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-10790 Shonda Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:53:38 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-10790 Morning and thank you for any assistance you can provide. My aunt is 73 years young. She still works and files taxes (single). She donates a lot of items to Goodwill and the Salvation Army, but she deoes not make enough to use any form besides the EZ. What can she do to make these donations work for her? Morning and thank you for any assistance you can provide. My aunt is 73 years young. She still works and files taxes (single). She donates a lot of items to Goodwill and the Salvation Army, but she deoes not make enough to use any form besides the EZ. What can she do to make these donations work for her?

]]> By: Vinny http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-8270 Vinny Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:31:46 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-8270 @Dennis: I have seen taxpayers who run their charitable contributions through their Schedule C as "promotions" or "advertising" rather than as individual itemized deductions. They were taking the aggressive (my opinion) position that those payments were "ordinary and necessary" for their business under Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code. I say aggressive because Section 162(b) pretty much nixes this idea if you're trying to get around the limitations on charitable contributions (including the fact that you have to itemize to deduct charitable contributions). You can't have it both ways. If you transfer property to a charity out of disinterested generosity, it belongs on Schedule A. You'd have a hard time arguing that this is "ordinary and necessary". @Dennis:

I have seen taxpayers who run their charitable contributions through their Schedule C as “promotions” or “advertising” rather than as individual itemized deductions. They were taking the aggressive (my opinion) position that those payments were “ordinary and necessary” for their business under Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code.

I say aggressive because Section 162(b) pretty much nixes this idea if you’re trying to get around the limitations on charitable contributions (including the fact that you have to itemize to deduct charitable contributions).

You can’t have it both ways. If you transfer property to a charity out of disinterested generosity, it belongs on Schedule A. You’d have a hard time arguing that this is “ordinary and necessary”.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-8221 Kelly Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:10:44 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-8221 Sorry Anthony, that's probably not going to happen. It's to protect myself and my readers. Folks who aren't regular readers and are just popping in to find one answer to one particular question are just seeing it for the first time - and everyone else can use the reminder. As far as disclaimers go, it's pretty tame and I stand by it. Sorry Anthony, that’s probably not going to happen. It’s to protect myself and my readers. Folks who aren’t regular readers and are just popping in to find one answer to one particular question are just seeing it for the first time – and everyone else can use the reminder. As far as disclaimers go, it’s pretty tame and I stand by it.

]]> By: anthony http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-8220 anthony Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:01:21 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-8220 Please change the wording of the disclaimer. It's getting disgusting and boring. Thanks tax girl Please change the wording of the disclaimer. It’s getting disgusting and boring.
Thanks tax girl

]]> By: Dennis Erickson http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-8196 Dennis Erickson Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:19:26 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-8196 Could he deduct these contributions on Schedule C, his business? Could he deduct these contributions on Schedule C, his business?

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-8191 Kelly Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:30:29 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-8191 Doh! You're right on both counts. I've edited the piece to reflect the corrections. Thanks! Doh! You’re right on both counts. I’ve edited the piece to reflect the corrections. Thanks!

]]> By: Paula http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-8190 Paula Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:27:29 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-8190 Should be $5450 for single sorry. Should be $5450 for single sorry.

]]> By: Paula http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-where-to-report-charitable-contributions/comment-page-1/#comment-8186 Paula Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:27:54 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=2248#comment-8186 Isn't the standard deduction for tax year 2008 $5440 for single and $10900 for MFJ? I believe you added in the personal exemption amount of $3500. Isn’t the standard deduction for tax year 2008 $5440 for single and $10900 for MFJ?
I believe you added in the personal exemption amount of $3500.

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