Tax Benefits of Making Charitable Donations

In addition to the overall benefits of making charitable donations, there are a number of tax benefits to be had as well. In fact, while many people give out of the kindness of their heart, still others give for tax benefits as well. Navigating through the tax benefits are fairly simply and in most cases, your accountant or tax preparer can assist you with figuring out how to take the charitable contribution deduction and whether or not the charity of your choice is qualified. Here are some additional tips on the tax benefits of making charitable donations:

·         A donation to charity could entitle you to take a charitable contribution deduction on your income tax as long as you itemize deductions:  When charitable gifts are deductible, the amount of the donation is actually reduced by your tax savings. For those in a higher income tax bracket, the appeal of giving to charity increases as the cost of that contribution is greatly decreased by their tax savings. For example, people who are in the 33% tax bracket actually only pay $67 for a $100 donation. Therefore, the higher the amount of the contribution, the more you end up saving. Wealthier people can not only afford to give more, but they also get a larger tax reward for doing so.

·         The charitable contribution deduction occurs in the year in which you pay it: When you mail off a check to charity, it is considered payment. Moreover, making a contribution on a credit card is deductible in the year that it is actually charged to the card, even if the credit card company does not receive the payment until much later in the year. Be sure to double check this with whatever charitable organization you are working with to see when they process payment so you know exactly when they plan to charge you credit card or to ensure they have received any kind of mailed-in payment. This is good information to have for your personal records.

·         There are a large number of charities that qualify for this deduction: While you can only deduct gifts if they are made to a qualified charity, many people have no problem with this because the list of qualified charities is extensive. Keep in mind that charitable contributions deductions cannot be taken to any charity that does not quality --- regardless of whether you think they should be qualified or not. Additionally, contributing to other foreign governments and political organizations and charities as well as a number of private foundations are not eligible for the charitable contribution deduction.

You can find online non-profit organizations that give away grants and foundation funding in large numbers. However, care must be taken while choosing a company offering charitable donation, and thorough back-ground check is to be done to ensure that the company has a sound history of positive and efficient donation and grant funding.