Charitable Deductions

Best Car Donation Tips To Save You Money On Your Taxes

In the United States it’s possible to donate a vehicle (usually a car, but it can be a boat or any other form of transportation) to certain charities, and in return be able to claim a tax deduction on your personal income tax return. A car donation may be accepted on the condition that the vehicle doesn’t have to run but should be in towing condition. A charitable car donation may be worth more than a trade-in.

The new rules allow the donor to deduct only the amount the charity receives for the vehicle. Charities usually provide you with a release of liability when they take your vehicle, and after the car sells, they send you a tax-deduction form that explains how much they received for your car. There have been car donors who needed a new vehicle and they ended up buying donated and repaired vehicles.

You may have an old vehicle sitting on your property or on the street that you don’t use very often. Make sure you have the title in hand if you call in your donation.

You can usually donate a sad-looking car that’s not running, depending on the charity. The donor benefits from the donation by receiving a tax receipt for the highest possible value of the vehicle. It’s good to know that when you donate a car, you’ll get it off your property within just a couple of days, freeing up space in the garage, in the driveway or even your yard.

Your vehicle has to have all four of the tires inflated in order to be accepted. By donating a car it can eliminate spending money on repairs, advertising fees and the problems or liabilities associated with selling a vehicle. In some cases charitable car donors can still claim fair market value for their used vehicle.

If your automobile, truck, boat, motorcycle, RV or aircraft is no longer of use to you, it can still go a long way toward supporting the charity of your choice. Make sure to fill out the forms the charity representative gives you and have them ready for the driver when he comes to pick up the car. No need to pay for advertising, no loss of privacy and possible security risk, and no need to pay for vehicle registration, insurance, and repairs to keep your car in running condition while you wait for a buyer.

Also, if your car is running, consider dropping it off with the charity yourself to save the organization from paying for towing costs. For states that require smog certificates or safety inspection certificates, you can donate your vehicle without these documents. And some cars may not qualify for the tax exemption because of the condition they’re in.

There are a few exceptions in the new tax law regarding the fair market value section, for example, you may base your deduction on the vehicle’s fair market value if the charity sells it to a needy individual at a discounted price or if the charity uses the car as part of its mission instead of selling it. Some charities have the capability to repair or perform maintenance and get a donated vehicle ready for sale. A vehicle donation is allowed if you itemize your income tax return.

Whether it’s the law in your state or not it’s a good idea to protect yourself by having proper insurance coverage on your vehicle until it’s donated. One of the exceptions to the new IRS regulations allows donors to still deduct the fair market value of their vehicle, provided the charity materially improves the vehicle.

If you donate a car you can get a tax break and help your community at the same time. Major charity car donation programs include: Kidney Foundation Car Donation Program, Target and Goodwill Industries. Whatever the case, your car donation, like any charitable donation, will get you a good tax deduction, will go to help someone in need and it’ll make you feel good that you were able to help in some way.

Car Donation: Vital Facts Worth Considering Before You Donate Your Car

Anybody who has a used old car in his or her parking lot can donate such car to charity. The incidence of risking your privacy in trying to sell your very old car is completely eliminated through car donation because you are going to get some monetary value through tax deduction and the receiving charitable organization comes to your doorstep to tow this gift from you. Apart from cars, you can also donate your old trucks, vans, boat, even airplanes and mobile homes. These are gladly accepted by the charity organizations that take these car donations and convert them to cash through auction sales.

Are You Going To Be Involved In Actual Car Sale?

The Answer is absolute no. All you will do is get the appropriate IRS form filled and have a written handover note signed by the recipient charity firm. Doing this will help you to pursue your tax deduction claims from the Internal Revenue Service. You do not need to even know where the car you donate will be sold. The charity organization you donated your car to will give you details of the sale within a period of 30 days so that you will file the necessary tax deduction rights you are entitled to.

Types of Car Donation Programs

It is important to note that these days, there are several firms that are saddled with the issue of receiving and auctioning car donations for various charitable organizations for a fee. The charity firms need to sign up with these car donation programs who handle all the issue relating to any car that donor wants to give them.

The slight disadvantage in this kind of car donation program is that the firm or middleman who handles the car donation process for the charity organization will definitely take some percentage from the proceeds of the car auction as their service fees. This can be avoided by asking the recipient charity firm if they can directly take your car donation or asking what percentage will accrue to them after the middle men must have deducted their service fees.

On the contrary, the entire issue of having some ‘middlemen’ in car donation process is eliminated by some well established charitable organizations who have their own personnel in charge of car donation and their car lots where they auction the cars that were donated to them. This is the most preferable option for many car donors because they feel that it’s a humanitarian gesture that will help support hundreds and thousands of people in need.

But you need to be very careful of the charitable firm you can donating your car to. You should also make sure that whichever charitable firm that receives your car gift, gives you enough documented prove to ascertain your gift was well received and save you any of incidence that may require car owner’s attention.

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Image taken on 2009-07-30 00:39:47 by me and the sysop.

Cause Marketing: Giving Back to your Community

Cause Marketing: Giving Back with Promotional Products

Whether you are part of a program that works with needy children and provides them with holiday gifts, or raises funds for hurricane victims, or individuals struggling with things like AIDS and cancer. Or maybe your business has taken a stand on something like – ‘good to be green’ recycling, environmental awareness and social responsibility or women’s issues. Whether you realize it or not you are part of what is now being coined – cause marketing.

Cause marketing is when a business aligns itself with a charitable organization for a mutually beneficial purpose. Your business gains with an improved image in the community and a charity gains more recognition and support for its cause. Promotional products are a low cost and proven form of advertising. By making custom promotional products a part of your charitable giving contribution you can maximize recognition for your program.

Many charities are just as appreciative of receiving a gift as they are cash. Items like custom promotional tote bags, vanity cases, sport buddy bottles, alligator clips and T-shirts make great gifts recipients are proud to show off. These items can be customized to highlight and bring awareness to both your company and your charity’s cause.

Send customized promotional gift baskets that are visually appealing. Good will generates more business. Offer services free of charge to less privileged disadvantaged people. Send announcements to the media and let them know what your company is doing. Expand your horizon by hosting charitable events. Exposure begets exposure. Make the commitment.

You can use the internet to research charities you are interested in in your area. You may choose to obtain information directly from the charities themselves or local government offices that evaluate charities. Thorough research of a charity ensures that it is a reliable and well run organization.

Charitable giving is a hot topic in business marketing. Match your charitable interests to reflect that of your customers and benefit with increased customer loyalty and alliances in your community. The causes your company is aligned with will, no doubt, influence customers’ willingness to do business with you. Focusing your effort on one noteworthy charitable organization will likely be sufficient but there is no reason a company could not contribute to two charities or even three.

Have an announcement posted to a community service bulletin board to inform local media of your charitable involvement. Involvement with a charity may lead to positive press interviews with local newspapers, radio or TV stations. Make all of these occasions to promote your business with promotional products. Give promotional items with your logo and contact information to everyone you meet. Make sure benefits your company offers are highlighted and included in the text in a clear and concise manner.

Good will generates more business. As another benefit, most of what you give as charitable giving is tax deductible. You may deduct fair market value for your charitable gifts. But, in case there is any scrutiny from the IRS be sure to keep itemized lists and written documentation. If possible, get receipts from your charity.

If in the course of working with your charity you spend time in meetings and travel, whatever expenses you incur are also tax deductible. Ask vendors for cash receipts for all cash purchases in case you are audited.

Use cause marketing to build goodwill in the community. Incorporating customized promotional products in your cause marketing efforts will give your program an extra push.

©2007

October is breast cancer awareness month.

Source : http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/cpid/619.htm

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10 Things Every Taxpayer Needs to Know About the Pension Law

The Pension Protection Act, signed into law on August 17, 2006, is designed to address the nation-wide problem of under-funded pension plans. The law penalizes noncompliant companies and encourages employee contributions, but many of the changes directly impact taxpayers of all ages, regardless of retirement status.

“Taxpayers will benefit from many of the act’s provisions, some of which come in the form of tax breaks, but individuals cannot take full advantage of the tax breaks until the new laws are fully understood,” said Michael Smith, Managing Authorized Taxpayer Representative at tax services firm FSI Tax Corp. (www.fsitax.com).

The following is a rundown of the most important tax code changes and how they will likely affect taxpayers, as well as retirees.

1. Direct IRA Tax Return Deposits

Taxpayers can now have their tax returns deposited directly into their IRA accounts. The IRS already offers taxpayers the option to automatically deposit returns into checking and saving accounts. By adding IRA accounts, legislators hope taxpayers will contribute more funds toward their retirement accounts.

2. 529 College Savings Plans

Many temporary tax laws enacted by the 2001 tax cuts were made permanent by the Pension Protection Act. This includes the ability to make withdrawals from 529 college savings plans without suffering tax penalties.

“Tax-free college savings withdrawals may seem inappropriate in a pension law, but this provision is welcomed by parents who would otherwise resort to tapping their IRAs to fund their children’s education,” said Smith.

3. Saver’s Credit

Another 2001 tax break that was set to expire this year is the Saver’s Credit, a tax credit matching up to $2,000 for lower-income workers who put money into their retirement accounts. This tax break benefits workers who earn less than $25,000 because pre-tax contributions lower the taxpayer’s reportable income and the Saver’s Credit provides additional tax relief with its matching funds.

4. Increased Contribution Levels

In 2001, the IRS temporarily raised employee-sponsored retirement plan contribution levels from $2,000 to $4,000 this year, $5,000 in 2008 and then adjusted by inflation. The higher limits were set to expire in 2010, but the act made them a permanent increase.

This change, also intended to encourage increased contribution amounts, applies to 401(k)s, IRAs, 403(b)s, 457s and catch-up contributions for workers aged 50 and older.

5. Direct Rollovers from a 401(k) to a Roth IRA

Employees who move from one workplace to another were previously permitted to transfer their 401(k)s to traditional IRAs, both of which require taxes to be paid once money is withdrawn. Only then was the individual allowed to transfer the account into a Roth IRA.

The law now permits former employees to transfer their employer-funded retirement accounts directly into a Roth IRA, a popular option due to the fact that contributions are made after taxes are taken from earnings, which means that there are no taxes due upon withdrawing funds.

“The tax code changes enacted by the Pension law benefit taxpayers and steer them toward contributing to their own retirements,” explained Smith. “While companies should be held accountable for funding employee pensions, each taxpayer should take advantage of changes that make it easier to ensure a secure retirement.”

Tax Deductions for Charitable Giving

Non-pension-related tax code changes include several provisions that significantly increase charitable giving regulations, some of which are unlikely to please donors.

5. Documenting Items

To discourage taxpayers from inflating the value of non-monetary charitable donations for inflated tax deductions, the IRS now requires taxpayers to fill out a form detailing the gifts. Additionally, any significant household item, valued at more than $500, must be appraised before the taxpayer can take a deduction.

Many charitable organizations, including Goodwill Industries International, say the new provisions will guard against worthless donations more suitable for the trash bins, but critics argue that increased regulation will discourage would-be donors and cause a decrease in charitable giving.

6. Documenting Monetary Gifts

Monetary donations will also require documentation. Regardless of the amount, a taxpayer should retain proof of any donation. Appropriate documentation can be a bank record, canceled check, credit card statement or receipt from the charity.

“These records are not required to be included in the tax return but they should be kept on hand should the IRS request proof,” advised Smith.

7. Direct Donations from IRAs for Seniors

Another tax law that many charities support affects only seniors. For the next two years, donors 70 ½ or older will be able to donate to charities directly from their IRAs, an accommodation that keeps the donated amount tax-free and avoids tax penalties for early withdrawals.

This provision benefits eligible taxpayers who take the standard deduction, which many older filers do because they receive larger standard deductions. This can also benefit individuals facing donation limits. Generally, people cannot donate more that 50 percent of their incomes, but the money does not count as income when it comes directly from the IRA.

Officials at charities such as United Way claim that despite being temporary, this provision will likely bring in tens of millions of dollars.

Other Pension Provisions

8. Automatic 401(k) Sign Up

Employers are allowed to automatically sign up employees for a 401(k). This change encourages participation from people who may not otherwise bother to sign up for the plan in the first place, though they will have the option to opt out.

9. Investment Advice

Because employees often choose safer investments for their 401(k)s, which generally result in modest returns, the act allows them to receive investment planning advice to encourage riskier investments with the potential for higher returns. The act also provides protection against dishonest advisers who steer employees toward decisions that could increase their own profit.

10. Non-Spousal Benefits

Two provisions that expand allowable withdrawals are pleasing gay rights activists. The non-spousal rollover lets retirement account assets be transferred to a designated beneficiary upon the retiree’s death and the hardship distribution allows retirement account assets be used for a medical or financial emergency of a beneficiary other than a spouse or a dependent.

The majority of the Pension Protection Act aims to ensure that companies fully fund traditional pension plans over a seven-year period, starting in 2008. But many provisions promote increased individual employee participation in retirement planning.

Smith said that while the new law expands allowances and makes it easier for individuals to increase retirement savings, it may be a step toward employee-funded retirement plans – a move that has many critics concerned.