Deciding To What Public Charities To Donate

By Brian Wood


As the end of the year approaches, many people and business owners start to prepare for next year's tax season. They realize that they might owe a sizable debt to the government. They want to come up with ways to save money and claim deductions on their returns. Many decide that it would be a good idea to donate to some of the public charities in their areas. You can use this tactic and get a legal deduction for your taxes by learning how to identify legitimate charitable organizations.

The most straightforward way to tell if a charity can give you a deduction is to look for its 501 (c) (3) that it can only get from the IRS. If it has this license, it means that it put in the necessary paperwork to validate its mission and services. The IRS permits it to accept donations from people in the area and also give proof to donors that they can claim the deductions on their tax returns. 0

Before you give any cash, write a check, make a donation with a credit card, or sign over possession of assets to it, you are reminded to ask about the organization's 501 (c) (3) status. If the person in charge refuses to disclose this information or says that it does not have it, you can donate. However, you will not get the deduction to claim on your taxes.

When you file taxes, you have the chance to put down the amount that you donated to the 501 (c) (3) licensed group. Depending on your filing status and other factors, you might need to provide proof the actual receipt from the charity. The receipt will tell the IRS how much you gave, on what date, and the name of the charity that received your contribution.

Many of these organizations especially the ones that are in most need of funds will make it a priority to get involved with the community. The leaders know that this exposure will bring attention to their cause and entice people to give cash and other contributions. The ones that shy away from the center of attention risk not getting donations at all.

To bypass this research, many people simply choose to donate to their churches or religious houses. The government allows most religious organizations tax-free charitable status. You could give money and legitimately claim the exemption when you prepare your returns next year. The IRS will accept that donation as long as it meets or exceeds the monetary limit.

To claim an exemption, it typically has to be $500 or more per year. Donations under that amount are not generally eligible to claim on taxes. Your gift is appreciated but not enough to lower your tax burden.

A tax debt can take months or years to pay off in full. You have legal loopholes available to you, however. You might shave some cash off the amount and perform some good works in the community by donating money to charities that serve the public. You can choose the right ones to patron by knowing what criteria allow them to provide you with receipts you then can use to get credits on your taxes.




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