Receipts for Charitable Donations?

kyfirewife

I donate to several different charities, most of whom do not send receipts for the donations received.

DH is not happy, because he wants to be able to claim the deductions.

What is the best way to get a receipt? Send a letter at the end of the year for a summary of all donations? Request one when you send in the $$ for each individual check?

What about groups that send you a "free gift" for your donation? Can you still deduct the $$ that you sent them? What if you didn't request the gift? For example, I donate regularly to the Humane Society of the US. They send me a gift once every couple of months. I don't ask for it, would rather not get it.

Any input / advice is appreciated.

TIA!

daves_sweetpea

I think a check is fine for a reciept.  I don't get my checks back from the bank but they do have scanned copies on line.  Sometimes we put cash in the basket at church and the IRS doesn't question what I report.  But I also don't claim to give $1,000 in cash every week either-that would surely get me audited!!  As far as the gifts, I think you're ok as long as you didn't ask for the gift and didn't donate b/c of a gift offer.  If they had said "donate $20 and get x, donate $50 and get y" then you'd need to subtract the fair market value of the gift. 

notapetrock

Ditto on the cancelled checks. I've also come to find out that run fees for charity runs aren't deductible since theoretically you're getting something from the charity.

KristenandSig

Agree with daves PP.

A copy of the check, as well as a copy of the form you are completing to send along with the check, is always a good idea.

For Goodwill donations, keep an itemized list of what was donated along with your drop off receipt. Then look online for the "cost" of the items.

Hope this helps!