Donations/Gifts

[George]

There was a tragedy in our area and many donations have been pouring into an account for the needy family.

I am thinking these would be considered gifts to the family?

No deduction for person giving the gift, no taxable event to the person receiving the gifts?

[Bill Tubbs]

The account...

How is the account set up? Just an account at a bank so people can contribute to it? If so, then definitely not deductible.

If the account is thru a charity, then I would lean towards deductible.

In either case, non-taxable gift for the recipient.

Bill

[Armando Beaujolais]

IRC 170(c) defines a charitable contribution in part as "no part of the earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual."

If people are giving money specifically for an individual or family, it's not a deductible charitable contribution no matter what organization they're going through. It's a gift. Nondeductible by donor, nontaxable to recipient.