Saving o' the green: a case study

Famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde said, “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” Here are a few of my best ideas about stretching your charitable dollar. Why not give now, rather than later? Let me tell you about…

Composer Wagner's birthday & the "quid pro quo" rule

A charitable donation is deductible to the extent the donation exceeds the value of any goods or services received in exchange. So what happens when you donate to your favorite charity and receive something tangible in return? This is the issue…

On the day of the Preakness: What about a gift horse?

TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE GIFT OF YOUR HORSE TO CHARITY Introduction Today the Preakness is being run, so what about a gift horse? You could sell your horse and donate the proceeds; then we’re talking about a cash gift. But if you’ve owned…

Six easy ways public radio, or any nonprofit, could raise more money

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I love National Public Radio and Iowa Public Radio. Wait, let me amend that:  I LOVE NPR and IPR! NPR and IPR provide the soundtrack to our lives. I'm a constant listener, Monica even more so. On this date in 1971 -- May 3 -- the afternoon…

The Kentucky Derby was run today: what are the tax consequences of the gift of your horse to charity

Introduction You could sell your horse and donate the proceeds; then we’re talking about a cash gift. But if you’ve owned the horse more than two years, the horse could be treated as a long-term capital asset. [Generally speaking, you only…

Substantiation of gifts of $250 or more, tax tip 5/365

Happy Monday to all. Here's a new tax tip. A gift to a qualified charitable organization may entitle you to a charitable contribution deduction against your income tax. But there are record keeping requirements to claim the charitable deduction. Substantiation…