Category: Charities

We are right in the middle of the tax filing season and deadline to file your 2014 tax returns is Aril 15, 2015. It is time to gather paperwork for your charitable contributions to qualified organizations and claim them on your Federal tax return. It can help you to lower your tax bill.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published helpful tips for claiming deductions for charitable giving on your tax return.

• According to IRS publication 526, you cannot claim your contributions to political organizations and specific individual as charitable giving.
• Your giving must be to an IRS recognized charitable organization.
• Those who are filing Form 1040 with Schedule A only can claim the deduction.
• If you benefited from the donation you can claim only the amount that exceeds your share.
• Donations such as shares are valued at fair market value while used cloths and other household items are subject to special rules.
• If you are claiming cash, checks and other similar giving you should maintain records for your giving especially for cash donations over $250. Donations totaling more than $500 within the year require filing of Form 8283.
• Donations over $5,000 should be claimed by filing Schedule B of Form 8283.

There are many charities that promote animal well-fare and animal rights. It is hard to find the right charity to sponsor because the definition of good animal welfare varies considerably. Most of the standards we use are under constant review and legislators muddy the field with new laws all the time.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is one of the best non-profit charities that dedicate itself to preventing cruelty to animals. Since its inception in 1866, the charity is based in New York City, New York. Its mission is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”

Its main efforts concentrate on developing and providing medicine for animals, being a resource for pet owners, and have a well-run program to deal with at-risk animals. Since 1912 it runs hospitals for animals and helped to develop new innovative treatments for animals. It teaches parents how to care for animals properly and an ethical way. The at-risk animal program runs in major cities throughout the US. As the nation’s premier humane organization, ASPCA carries out other programs in caring for pets for parents and animals and serve victims of animal cruelty.

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At the end of the year many are struggling to give to charity to take advantage of charitable giving deduction to lower their tax burden. People still are concerned about the legitimacy of many hundreds of charitable organizations. How can you tell a charitable organization is legitimate?

• If your goal is to get a tax break, then you should be looking at a charity registered under the IRS requirements. There are many charitable organizations for educational, religious, charity, veteran organizations, government and other purposes that are credible and meet IRS strict guidelines.
• Many legitimate charitable organizations accept goods, money, stocks and other forms of donations. Your gifted time and effort has tax deductible value when it comes to donations.
• Be aware of limitations such as no more than 50 percent of your adjusted gross income for giving. When it comes to giving to veteran related charities, limit is 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. Farmers can deduct 100 percent of the value of land donated to a legitimate charity.
• Many tools to evaluate the legitimacy of a charity are available online. Using these tools you can find a charity that satisfies all your charitable giving goals.

The Ebola crisis in the West Africa in recent past is bringing the best of non-profit organizations. Many world leaders including the President of the United States are pleading for help from charitable organizations because countries alone are unable to handle the crisis. Non-profit organizations are making significant contributions to fight Ebola.

In Guinea where Ebola first started in March 2014, more than 2,400 people have lost their lives due to Ebola virus. It quickly spread to neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as one of the worst health crisis and so far it had claimed many thousands of lives in the region and elsewhere.

Among charities that jumped into help the West African nations, Doctors Without Borders, Wellbody Alliance and number of other organizations takes the center stage. The United States is sending over 3,000 trained military personal to treat as well as to train persons involved with Ebola. They plan to train 500 healthcare workers a week. Donations are also pouring in from other nations and non-profits. One United Nations organization estimated that so far more than $380 million have been pledged by nations, organizations and non-profits for the cause.