Are these donations tax deductible?

[Veronica97]

I’m not sure where to post this question. It isn’t a question about sin…just a question about charitable donations. I sometimes get letters from Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Walls, Mississippi, asking if I want friends/family members, etc. to be included in a novena of Masses (for say, Father’s Day or other occasions). And of course they ask for a donation as well. Are these donations tax deductible, or can I not deduct them because I am getting something in return? Also, another charity (Salesian Missions) sent me some chances to win $10,000. It said right on the tickets that a donation was not necessary to win, but I sent the ticket stubs back with a donation. I thought it was a worthy cause, and also I liked the idea of 6 chances to win a big prize. But is it tax deductible since I was getting chances to win a prize? Does anybody know how these things work? I wasn’t making the donations for the purpose of deducting them from my taxes, but I would like to know all the same.

 

[Sunbreak]

The raffle donations are not tax deductible. I am not sure about the novena of Masses from a religious group situation. If you ask your parish priest to do it, it is not deductible because he may be the one getting the money rather than the church.

 

[thistle]

Why do people make donations and look for a tax deduction. They should give without looking to receive otherwise the act of donating, in my opinion, lacks sincerity.

 

[coachdennis]

Why do people make donations and look for a tax deduction. They should give without looking to receive otherwise the act of donating, in my opinion, lacks sincerity.

Looking at legitimate tax deductions is part of responsible financial management and household budgeting, an important and practical part of family life. For many families, it is the responsible thing to do.

Seeking out the information and choosing to take the deduction or not is NOT a reflection on someone’s faith or sincerity. Just as you have made a choice, so have they.

 

[pianistclare]

Looking at legitimate tax deductions is part of responsible financial management and household budgeting, an important and practical part of family life. For many families, it is the responsible thing to do.

Seeking out the information and choosing to take the deduction or not is NOT a reflection on someone’s faith or sincerity. Just as you have made a choice, so have they.

Exactly. Let’s not kid ourselves. The Church benefits from the tax laws as well.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

It would appear to me that the donations to the mission are, in fact, deductible IF the mission is a charity under the IRS code 501 (c)3. The IRS does not perceive you to have received a material good or service benefit.

The raffle is more questionable. If you purchase tickets, there is no deduction, or sometimes a limited percentage deduction. If you gave a donation that was not a purchase and had no chance of anything in return, it’s deductible. It sounds to me as if there’s something amiss in the way the raffle is being conducted.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Raffle’s are not deductible.

Donations to charitable organizations are.

Also, donations under $250, don’t require that you have a receipt, but keep good records.

Jim