Tuesday Tax Tidbit: Still Time to Substantiate Your 2013 Donations

To support a charitable deduction, you need to comply with IRS substantiation requirements. This generally includes obtaining a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity stating the amount of the donation, whether you received any goods or services in consideration for the donation, and the value of any such goods or services.

“Contemporaneous” means the earlier of 1) the date you file your tax return, or 2) the extended due date of your return. So if you made a donation in 2013 but haven’t yet received substantiation from the charity, it’s not too late — as long as you haven’t filed your 2013 return. Contact the charity and request a written acknowledgement.

And don’t take the substantiation requirements lightly. In one U.S. Tax Court case, the taxpayers substantiated a donation deduction with canceled checks and a written acknowledgment. The IRS denied the deduction, however, because the acknowledgment failed to state whether the taxpayers received goods or services in consideration for their donation. The taxpayers obtained a second acknowledgment including the required statement, but the Tax Court didn’t accept it because it wasn’t contemporaneous.

Additional substantiation requirements apply to some types of donations. We can help ensure you meet them so you can enjoy the deductions you’re expecting.