What Donations Are Tax Deductible

Following special tax law changes made earlier this year cash donations of up to 300 made before December 31 2020 are now deductible when people file their taxes in 2021.

What donations are tax deductible. In most cases the amount of charitable cash contributions taxpayers can deduct on Schedule A as an itemized deduction is limited to a percentage usually 60 percent of the taxpayers adjusted gross income AGI. Qualified contributions are not subject to this limitation. For the purposes of this deduction qualifying organizations are those that are religious charitable educational scientific or literary in purpose. You can deduct contributions of appreciated capital gains assets up to 20 of your AGI.

However for 2020 individuals who do not itemize their deductions may deduct up to 300 from gross income for their qualified cash charitable contributions to public charities private operating foundations and federal state and local governments. If youre unsure whether the organization youre thinking of donating to qualifies or not the IRS provides a Tax-Exempt Organization Search Tool that you can use. Limits on the Charitable Contribution Deduction Generally you can deduct contributions up to 30 or 60 of your adjusted gross income AGI depending on the nature and tax-exempt status of the charity to which youre giving. Gifts to individuals are not deductible.

Not every section allows these deductions. This is up from 50 percent in 2017. However taxpayers who dont itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to 300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations. If your itemized deductions are more than the standard deduction you will benefit from claiming itemized deductions and will be able to deduct cash and non-cash contributions.

The 300 deduction is for donations made in cash which includes currency checks credit or debit cards and electronic funds transfers. 6 You can find your AGI on line 8b of the 2019 Form 1040. For instance social welfare and civic organizations registered under section 501c4 dont qualify. As of 2019 youre limited to 60 of your adjusted gross income AGI on most donations made to public charities and certain private foundations.

But its not just cash donations you. Tax deductible donations can reduce taxable income. Religious and charitable organizations typically fall under section 501c3 and can receive tax-deductible donations. The IRS also limits how much of your generosity you can claim as an itemized tax deduction.

12 4. Tax deductible donations are contributions of money or goods to a tax-exempt organization such as a charity. IR-2020-264 November 25 2020 The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers of a special new provision that will allow more people to easily deduct up to 300 in donations to qualifying charities this year. A special temporary provision under the CARES Act allows taxpayers who do not itemize deductions to easily deduct cash donations up to 300 that are made to qualifying charities in 2020.

You cant take the deduction for contributions of property such as clothing or household items.