Charitable deductions – Substantiate them or lose them

Description

Abstract: Qualifying for a charitable deduction is, in some respects, a matter of form over substance. The IRS could disallow a deduction, even if it’s otherwise legitimate, if the donor fails to follow the substantiation requirements to the letter. This article offers a quick summary of the rules for both cash and noncash gifts, and describes a real-world example of what can happen when proper substantiation is lacking.