Donations?

[SueBaby]

Client has a Sch C-- No Sch A, but she does have her donations to her church, that is the only thing.
Question: Can I use the church donations on her Sch C? I hate for her to lose her $5,000 on church. She is a RN and have 1099's.

Of course no place for church donations on Sch C just asking if I can?????

[Jesse]

You are kidding - right?

[SueBaby]

You are kidding - right?

One fleeting tired moment I wanted this elderly lady to keep her church givings. Where ---there is nowhere. Her tithes go up every year and her salary down, so just a good thought though.

[joanmcq]

I have an elderly couple that every year gives me their medical, RE taxes, tithes, etc., typed on a piece of paper, and every year I put them on a Sch A which I then back out of their bill, but print out for them anyways. Never know when they might have big medical bills or give a big offering to the church, so I let them do what they do.

They still hold hands when they walk away from my house.

[SueBaby]

I have an elderly couple that every year gives me their medical, RE taxes, tithes, etc., typed on a piece of paper, and every year I put them on a Sch A which I then back out of their bill, but print out for them anyways. Never know when they might have big medical bills or give a big offering to the church, so I let them do what they do.

They still hold hands when they walk away from my house.

And every year I feel sorry for alot of people too. And I shouldn't. In this business you can't or you will go crazy. Which I am half there. Be so glad for April 16th. This year has been soooo stressful and loooong!!!

[Bees Knees]

And every year I feel sorry for alot of people too. And I shouldn't. In this business you can't or you will go crazy. Which I am half there. Be so glad for April 16th. This year has been soooo stressful and loooong!!!

Its all in how you explain things to the client. It is nice you have a $5,000 deduction, but the government's $5,350 standard deduction is even better, and you don't have to keep any receipts for it.

[SueBaby]

Its all in how you explain things to the client. It is nice you have a $5,000 deduction, but the government's $5,350 standard deduction is even better, and you don't have to keep any receipts for it.

Yeah you are right Thanks and Have a Good Easter!!!

[Jesse]

I can understand sympathizing, but what would make you think you could take church contributions on a Schedule C?

[Gretel]

And every year I feel sorry for alot of people too. And I shouldn't. In this business you can't or you will go crazy.

Nothing wrong with feeling sorry for someone else. Where would we be without compassion. The real hard thing is that we feel helpless and there is nothing we can do to ease the situation. In other words we have to accept our limitations.

[S T]

Schedule A

So if she is single, you are really close to reaching the Standard Deduction. What about other deductions for the client, such as Medical, Property Tax, Vehicle License Fees, complete the Schedule A as Joan says, and see what happens.

Sandy

[travis bickle]

and there is also

So if she is single, you are really close to reaching the Standard Deduction. What about other deductions for the client, such as Medical, Property Tax, Vehicle License Fees, complete the Schedule A as Joan says, and see what happens.

Sandy

the possibility of her doubling up every other year.

some people ALWAYS want to give to church right away, without holding back or waiting -- fine, absolutely fine.

but even if she only doubled up her other schedule a items:
property tax paid on 01/03/XX and 12/30/XX;
good will items given on 01/03/XX and 12/30/XX.

that way, every other year she gets the "bigger" standard deduction and in the alternating "every-other-years" [did that come out right?] she gets a bigger itemized deduction.

now, if she would agree to pay her church tithes in the same manner [01/03/XX and 12/30/XX] she should definitely have no problem.

as long as she is coming to you, advise her.
think not only of being nice to her, but of possible referrals she may make because you "are so clever"

[joanmcq]

I don't feel sorry for my couple. They are just sweethearts, and you can tell they've been putting their taxes together that way for years. The fact that the sheet is typewritten gets to me too (who has a typewriter anymore?).

Of course the fact that their RE taxes are $426.....good ole proposition 13.

[DonPriebe]

Put it all together and you get ...

From all the info so far ...

She gave $5,000 to her church.
It was called a "tithe"
So her income must be about $50K

She pays only $426 in RE taxes because of Prop 13.
So she is in California.
California has an income tax. Where is that in her Schedule A calculation?

Maybe she doesn't pay any CA income tax.
Her Sales Tax deduction would be at least $650.

That puts her into itemizing territory (or close depending on how old she is).

[Peachie]

Good point Don.

Maybe she doesn't pay any CA income tax.
Her Sales Tax deduction would be at least $650.

That puts her into itemizing territory (or close depending on how old she is).[/QUOTE]

In addition, If all else fails, I would consider itemizing her for state purposes. She may lose a little on the federal and gain much more on the state.

Peachie.

[SueBaby]

Maybe she doesn't pay any CA income tax.
Her Sales Tax deduction would be at least $650.

That puts her into itemizing territory (or close depending on how old she is).

In addition, If all else fails, I would consider itemizing her for state purposes. She may lose a little on the federal and gain much more on the state.

Peachie.[/QUOTE]Her tithes is lots more than her income. Only 30,510. She is 64 and only works because of Ins. ---which is not enough for nothing. Nothing to itemize--just her church. Her uniforms and everything else goes on Sch C because of a 1099.

Like I say her tithes goes up and income goes down every year. Thank goodness she is a sweetheart . She has no one to spend money on so it goes to the church.