Typical Contributions

[Golden Rocket]

New focus on contributions, right? Statement required, right?

Here are some contributions my clients think are deductible:

1)"They are always passing the hat at work for someone, and
I put in $5 every time they do."
2)"Yes, my niece's house burned down, and I gave her $100."
3)"We're always taking stuff down to the goodwill place."
4)"Someone is always knocking at the door asking for money."
5)"At the traffic light when the traffic is stopped, someone just
shoves a cup through my window for me to drop in a dollar."
6)"We always buy Girl Scout cookies."
7)???
8)???
9)???

[Chief]

Contributions

Do you have a fiddle in your office?

[JohnH]

Written on my office ceiling

Lots of my clients keep their contribution records written on my office ceiling. When I ask them for the info, they always look up there and start trying to read off the amounts.

[taxea]

Typical Contributions

The way I read the law, you are not required to audit or verify the information provided by your client but, if you have reason to believe the deduction is not accurate then you are subject to the penalty.
My yearly client checklist says "Due to changes in the tax law that apply to 2007 you must have receipts for your donations and a record of mileage . If you don't have the required records you may not claim the expense." taxea

[erchess]

Girl Scout Cookies

I am used to deducting a dollar or two per box of these cookies, reflecting the premium one pays for them over say Chipa Ahoy Cookies.