Editor's note: This article was originally published Dec. 8, 2021. Find more USA TODAY tax season coverage here.
Charitable giving during the holiday season this year takes on a new, happier meaning when it comes to tax deductions.
Typically, most people aren't able to get a tax break when they donate money to a charity if they're claiming the standard deduction on their federal income tax returns. And nearly 9 out of 10 taxpayers are taking that standard deduction these days.
Yet pandemic relief in Congress created a special but temporary break for giving money to a qualified charity that applies to people who do not itemize.
A married couple taking the standard deduction is allowed to claim up to $600 for cash contributions made to qualifying charities in 2021, if filing a joint return. It's a temporary break, which is set to expire on Jan. 1.
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A single individual, including married individuals filing separate returns, can claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions.
If some of this sounds familiar, it is, somewhat.
On 2020 federal income tax returns, cash donations of up to $300 made to qualifying organizations were treated as deductible for those who didn't itemize.
"The difference this year: Those who file married filing jointly are allowed a direct deduction of up to a combined total of $600," said Mark Steber, chief tax information officer at Jackson Hewitt, the national tax preparation chain.
Should you itemize your donations to charities?
Now is a great time to consider what donations you'd like to make. But again, you need to take into account whether you're going to itemize or not.
"If you donate noncash items, you need to be eligible to claim itemized deductions," Greene-Lewis said.
Your itemized deductions, she noted, for expenses for things like home mortgage interest, property taxes and charitable contributions need to add up to more than your standard deduction, which is $12,550 single or married filing separately; and $25,100 for married filing jointly in 2021.
For heads of households, the standard deduction is $18,800.
Many people do not itemize deductions, especially after the tax rule changes went into place in 2018 and nearly doubled the standard deduction.
Higher inflation also will drive up the standard deduction by several hundred dollars for the 2022 tax returns, which will be filed in 2023.
The standard deduction for married couples filing jointly goes up by $800 for 2022.
For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction increases by $400 for 2022.
For heads of households, the standard deduction goes up another $600 for 2022.
Did you donate to a qualified charity?
If you're making a last-minute donation, you want to be certain that the charity you’re considering is a qualified charity so that you can receive a tax break.
"Taxpayers often try to claim deductions for contributions to organizations that are not qualified charities, such as political candidates or lobbying organizations," Luscombe said.
Giving to someone's personal GoFundMe effort isn't usually going to cut it.
Yet donations made to GoFundMe certified charity fundraisers are tax-deductible and will receive tax receipts automatically from the charity partner, PayPal Giving Fund, according to a spokesperson for GoFundMe.
The giving platform has specific GoFundMe Cause programs, including Justice & Equality, Pride, Mental Health and Basic Necessities.
Keep your paperwork to back up your deduction and do your homework upfront.
“Every year there are court cases where the IRS has denied an individual’s charitable contributions due to lack of required documentation, improper valuation, or lack of an appraisal, if needed," Allen said.
Be cautious about just handing over money to any request during this giving season.
"There are, unfortunately, a lot of scammers who are looking for 'donations' this time of year," Steber warned.
The IRS offers an online search tool for finding out about an organization's tax-exempt status at IRS.gov.
Paying attention now – and making any last-minute cash donations by Dec. 31 – can make a good deal of sense because many people who don't itemize are looking at a tax benefit with a limited shelf life.
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