Donations are a great way to support a deserving charity and also provide a tax deduction. Unfortunately, charitable donations are under scrutiny, and the IRS is rejecting many donations without adequate documentation. Here are six things you need to do to ensure your charitable donation will be tax-deductible:

1. Make sure your charity is eligible. Only donations to qualified charitable organizations registered with the IRS are tax-deductible. You can confirm an organization qualifies by calling the IRS at (877) 829-5500 or visiting the IRS website.
2. Get receipts. Get receipts for your deductible contributions. You don’t file the receipts with your tax return, but you must keep them with your tax records. You must get the receipt at the time of the donation, or the IRS may not allow the deduction.
3. Keep track of mileage. If you drive for charitable purposes, this mileage can also be deductible. For example, you can deduct the miles you drive to deliver meals to the elderly, volunteer as a coach, or transport others to and from a charitable event at 14 cents per mile. You must maintain a mileage log to substantiate your charitable driving.
4. Take extra steps for noncash donations. You can make a contribution of clothing or household items you no longer use. If you decide to make one of these noncash contributions, it is up to you to determine the value of the contribution. However, many charities provide a donation value guide to help you determine the value of your contribution. Your donated items must be in good or better condition, and you should receive a receipt from the charitable organization for your donations. If your noncash contributions are greater than $500, you must file a Form 8283 to provide additional information to the IRS about your contribution. For noncash donations of more than $5,000, you must also obtain an independent appraisal to certify the value of the items.
5. Pay attention to the calendar. Contributions are deductible in the year they are made. To be deductible in 2017, contributions must be made by December 31, with an exception. Contributions by credit card are deductible even if you don’t pay off the charge until the following year, as long as the contribution is on your credit card statement by December 31. Similarly, contribution checks written before December 31 are deductible in the year written, even if the check is not cashed until the following year.
6. Itemize. You must itemize your deductions using Schedule A in order to take a deduction for a contribution. If you’re going to itemize your return to take advantage of charitable deductions, it also makes sense to look for other itemized deductions. These include state and local taxes, real estate taxes, home mortgage interest, and eligible medical expenses over a certain threshold.

Remember, charitable giving can be a valuable tax-deductible donation, but only if you take the right steps. Contact our RRBB advisors for more information or if you have any questions.