• Home
  • About Us
    ▼
    • Gratia Schoemakers
      ▼
      • Community Outreach Program
    • Testimonials
  • Virtual Services
  • Estate Planning
    ▼
    • Estate Planning Basics
    • Last Will and Testament
    • Revocable Living Trusts
    • Durable Power of Attorney
    • Medical Power of Attorney
    • Living Will
    • Family Estate Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning & Asset Protection
    • Kids Safety Plan™
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Guardianship
      ▼
      • Guardianship Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Legacy Preservation Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Trusts
    • Pet Trusts
    • Gun Trusts
  • Probate
    ▼
    • Texas Probate Guide
    • Probate of a Will
    • Texas Affidavit of Heirship
    • Texas Small Estate Affidavit
    • Texas Heirship Determination
    • Texas Muniment of Title
    • Trust Administration
  • Family Law
    ▼
    • Divorce
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Mediation
    • Custody / Visitation
  • Blog
  • FAQs
    ▼
    • FAQs – Videos
    • FAQs – Estate Planning
    • FAQs – Beyond Money in Estate Planning
    • FAQs – Divorce and Estate Planning FAQs and Myths
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Newlyweds Myths and FAQs
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Young Adults
    • FAQs – The Estate Planning Cast of Characters
    • FAQs – Expecting an Inheritance
    • FAQs – Myths and FAQs – Planning for Conflict Prone Families
    • FAQs – New and Expanding Families
    • FAQs – Pet Trusts
    • FAQs – Probate
    • FAQs – Standalone Retirement Trust Myths and FAQs
    • FAQs – Trust Modifications
    • FAQs – Unwinding Obsolete Planning
    • FAQs – Why You Want to Avoid Probate
    • FAQs – Year-End Planning Myths and FAQs
  • Contact
    ▼
    • Virtual Estate Planning Login
    • Client Portal
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

PROTECTING YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FUTURE | SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT | CALL US TODAY! (832) 408-0505

GP Schoemakers, PLLC

Protecting You, Your Family, Your Future

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Gratia Schoemakers
      • Community Outreach Program
    • Testimonials
  • Virtual Services
  • Estate Planning
    • Estate Planning Basics
    • Last Will and Testament
    • Revocable Living Trusts
    • Durable Power of Attorney
    • Medical Power of Attorney
    • Living Will
    • Family Estate Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning & Asset Protection
    • Kids Safety Plan™
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Guardianship
      • Guardianship Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Legacy Preservation Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Trusts
    • Pet Trusts
    • Gun Trusts
  • Probate
    • Texas Probate Guide
    • Probate of a Will
    • Texas Affidavit of Heirship
    • Texas Small Estate Affidavit
    • Texas Heirship Determination
    • Texas Muniment of Title
    • Trust Administration
  • Family Law
    • Divorce
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Mediation
    • Custody / Visitation
  • Blog
  • FAQs
    • FAQs – Videos
    • FAQs – Estate Planning
    • FAQs – Beyond Money in Estate Planning
    • FAQs – Divorce and Estate Planning FAQs and Myths
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Newlyweds Myths and FAQs
    • FAQs – Estate Planning for Young Adults
    • FAQs – The Estate Planning Cast of Characters
    • FAQs – Expecting an Inheritance
    • FAQs – Myths and FAQs – Planning for Conflict Prone Families
    • FAQs – New and Expanding Families
    • FAQs – Pet Trusts
    • FAQs – Probate
    • FAQs – Standalone Retirement Trust Myths and FAQs
    • FAQs – Trust Modifications
    • FAQs – Unwinding Obsolete Planning
    • FAQs – Why You Want to Avoid Probate
    • FAQs – Year-End Planning Myths and FAQs
  • Contact
    • Virtual Estate Planning Login
    • Client Portal

5 Easy Tips to Simplify Your Year End Charitable Giving

December 7, 2015 By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.

Are you planning on making charitable donations before the end of the year?  The IRS reminds us that you must itemize deductions on your tax return to claim a deduction for these gifts.  In addition, the following five tips can help make those year-end charitable gifts count.

Tip #1 – Give to a Qualified Charity.  Only gifts to a “qualified charity” are deductible on your income tax return.   The IRS offers a handy website, the Select Check tool, to determine whether your favorite organizations are qualified.  You can also deduct donations made to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and government agencies even if they are not listed in the Select Check database.

Tip #2 – Give Some Cash.  Gifts of money can be made by check, electronic funds transfer, credit card, or payroll deduction.  In order to be able to deduct a monetary gift on your tax return, you must have a bank record (cancelled check, bank statement, credit card statement) or written document from the charity (listing the organization’s name and date and amount given), regardless of the dollar amount donated.  For payroll deductions, keep your pay stub(s), W-2, or other document from your employer which shows the total amount withheld along with the pledge card showing the name of the charity.

Tip#3 – Give Some Stuff.  You can take a tax deduction by giving away your gently used stuff, including household items (furniture, furnishings, electronics, appliances, linens) and clothing (shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, shorts, shoes).  If possible, get a receipt from the charity which includes the organization’s name, date of the contribution, and a detailed description of your donated items.  If you leave your stuff at an unattended drop site, make a written record of the donation.

Tip #4 – Give Before the End of the Year.  Donations are deductible on your tax return in the year they are made.  Gift checks count on your 2015 income tax return as long as they are postmarked in 2015 and credit card donations charged before the end of 2015 still count this year even if you do not pay the bill until 2016.

Tip #5 – Keep Good Records.  Always keep accurate records of charitable gifts you make – list the date of the contribution, a detailed description of the donation, the name and address of the organization, the fair market value of the property at the time of the donation, and the method used to determine the value.  You must obtain an acknowledgment from the organization if a donation (either cash or stuff) is valued at $250 or more.  If the donation consists of an automobile, boat or airplane, special rules apply which can be found on the IRS website.

Have Questions About Deducting Charitable Gifts?

If you have questions about making deductible charitable donations, please call our office to arrange for a convenient time for us to speak.

Filed Under: Estate Planning Tagged With: Gifting, Taxes, Tips, Year End

Footer

Clear Lake Location
1100 NASA Parkway, Ste 420J
Houston, TX 77058

Serving These Areas

Harris County and Galveston County
Houston
Galveston
Clear Lake
Friendswood
Dickinson
LaMarque
League City
Kemah
Pearland

Contact Us
Get Directions
(832) 408-0505

Privacy Policy
The information contained in this Website is subject to our Disclaimer and Terms and Conditions.