Charitable Giving Information

Posts Tagged ‘Charity’

Charitable Giving Forms

Question: Income Tax Question – Form 8283 Charitable Deductions (noncash)?

I need a little help. I’ve been told 2 different things, so I need to confirm which is correct.

I use Turbo Tax to do my taxes. I usually have non-cash contributions of over $ 1000 each year, costing about $ 75-200 for each. I get a copy of the receipt that Goodwill gives me and keep it with each donation. I use Its Deductible to plan how much to deduct for each item. Turbotax then fills out Form 8283 because the total of all my contributions is over $500.

*** Here’s the problem: My mother told me her tax person said that you can’t claim non-cash donations each year over $ 500 unless they give you an appraisal. **** Isn’t that just if an INDIVIDUAL item is worth over $ 500?? Not if you give away, say… Goodwill 2-10-07 $ 201.00, Goodwill 3-4-07 $ 122.00, Goodwill 8-14-07 $ 175.00, Goodwill 11-1-07 $ 98.00 ???

Any help from a CPA or someone who does tax preparation would be really appreciated.

Thanks!!

Answer: You can only deduct what the items may sell for. For donations to Goodwill or similar charities, that's typically between 10¢ and 20¢ on the dollar of the new price of the items at best. If challenged at audit, you must be able to provide a detailed inventory of all items donated and the individual values of the items.

The rules on non-cash donations are complex. See IRS Pub 526 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf for general guidelines on charitable donations and IRS Pub 561 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p561.pdf for more detailed information on establishing the value of donated property.

Planned Parenthood 'Registers' in Haiti and Other Places

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Charitable Giving Republican Democrat

Question: Why do Rich Blue state people need government to take care of them, but people in Poorer Red States, don’t?

Could it be because People in Red states are more charitable and take care of those who need help, without being forced by government to do it?

This is the case. It’s a statistical fact that Republicans and Independents give far more than Democrats, while making on average substantially less money. And in my observation make their money by producing, while the Blue state thing tends to be more parasitic in nature on average. Blue voters definitely do more parasitic activity on average, especially lawyers, and Unions who use leverage not of market force to unnaturally raise their pay for doing less work. Note, I said on average.

Answer: On average as you say, Blue Stater's are in a culture of parasitism, as you also say. They only know where money comes from to them so they can get it, but they really don't understand the nuts and bolts of production of wealth, or the cause and effect of creating a nation that creates more wealth so that everyone can have more of it.

To the Blue staters on average more than the red staters, much more, government is a tool to be manipulated into bringing them more wealth or paying their bills. They really don't get the concept of carefully caring for and inspiring the goose that lays the golden egg, which is production of wealth that should be incentivized, so there is more of it around.

Dirty politicians use this Blue state philosophy based on a lack of understanding about the cause and effect, to get them to vote for that which will bring them political power. They also degrade and erode the countries economy and upset the golden goose, but they don't care, they get more all at once from killing the golden goose, then they have theirs as the rest of the country goes down.

STOP US Govt. Taxing Non-Profits! Elect Frank Mazzapica US Congress

Charitable Trust Education

Question: Can all charitable trusts in the world come together and decide everyone on this earth gets 2 times food ?

Is this feasible ? I know many rich charitable trusts who have different focuses and agenda. Some have very expensive plans for education, New inventions etc. But can they not come together and contribute to a simple humanitarian cause to ensure that no human being on this earth remains hungry ? What are your views ?

Answer: God Questions.
Think the amount of wastage of food in marriages and parties and even at home and hotels. Start preaching people to save food. If the leftovers can be given to poor and hungry that would be great.

Let us all decided not leave anything in our plates.

sbbg charitable trust 3

Donations Pick Up Denver

For those struggling with the metaphorical question—which came first, the chicken or the egg?—the answer is nigh for some folks living in Boulder, CO: it’s neither the chicken nor the egg; it’s metal.

The Children, Youth, and Environments Center for Research and Design at the University of Colorado has collaborated with Boulder County Going Local and the Institute for Intentionally Sustainable Neighborhoods to launch Urban Hens in Boulder.

The Urban Hens project seeks to develop a sustainable model for establishing chickens in urban settings.  Backyard chickens can provide a healthy, local food source and bring a not-so-new dimension to homes, schools, and communities seeking sustainability. The goal of the three organizations is to strengthen and enhance communities through collaboration, education, and sustainable solutions.

The sustainable solution used to house the hens is a prefabricated arched structure made of corrugated metal, designed to offer people room to stand inside for easy access to the five-plus birds that are kept in the metal pole barn.

“My students decided to investigate prefabrication, and combined with our historic precedent research, we quickly discovered Quonset huts,” says Rob Pyatt, who teaches the university’s Environmental Design students about basic design, construction systems, and community engagement. “We also liked the material efficiency with using a relatively light-gauge steel combined with the structural stability of the geometry (arch).”

The first Urban Hens metal barn building, which was built in Pyatt’s backyard, took three weekends to construct. During this time, Pyatt walked his student crew step-by-step through the construction process. “That {time frame} is based on what we are teaching—slab, metal, framing, etc.,” says Pyatt. “It’s pretty simple and efficient! We worked with SteelMaster Buildings (based in Virginia Beach, VA) to create the buildings, which are elegant and have been well received.”

The metal barn is equipped with horizontal wooden slats which provide both shade and ventilation. Sand covers the floor for easy clean up, and the fully-enclosed structure is firmly bolted to a concrete slab so it will not tip over.

Outside of Pyatt’s backyard, Urban Hens recently installed its first two coops, one at Shawnee Gardens assisted-living center in Boulder and one at a North Boulder cooperative residential community. They have grant funding for three more coops, one of which is planned for Park Hill Elementary School in Denver. The student crew is scheduled to start the installation in mid-September at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art as part of a three-month exhibition. Once that has concluded, the coop will be relocated to the elementary school.

Urban Hens plans to design and sell chicken-coop kits across the country based on Pyatt and his students’ design, with proceeds allowing them to donate built coops to low-income neighborhoods and community organizations.

Andy Garcia in Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead

Value Donations Goodwill

Question: I heard that now you have to itemize your donated items to Goodwill to get tax credit. Is that true?

We used to just take a carload of stuff to Goodwill and just estimate the overall value but now I heard you have to itemize every single thing to qualify for tax credit. I’ve got a bunch of stuff and would like to know this answer before dropping it off at a donation center.

Answer: You don't really have to but it would be a good idea if you donate a lot. "a lot" would have to be checked with the IRS and your state.

Donate to Goodwill