Give Wisely:
We will take it, too!
Just like charities that advertise on the radio, the Winter Park Public Library gratefully accepts donations of tangible items including houses, boats, cars, artwork and other assets. These gifts are often most beneficial to the donor, who simply transfers title and receives the tax deduction.
Please let us know if we can assist you and put your assets to work for the benefit of the community. Contact Development Coordinator Phyllis Corkum at pcorkum@wppl.org or 407-623-3277.
Share Your IRA
From CNN Money
If you're 70½ or older, haven't taken the required minimum distribution on your traditional IRA this year, and don't need the cash for living expenses, you can donate all or part of it (up to $100,000) to avoid adding the amount to your taxable income.
An IRA-to-charity rollover can also reduce the taxes owed on Social Security benefits and make it easier to claim deductions requiring spending in excess of a certain income threshold, such as the one for medical expenses.
So even though you give up the charitable deduction, your tax bill will probably be lower than if you took the distribution, and then donated. Just be aware that this provision is set to expire at the end of 2011, "and there's low probability of extension," says financial planner Mark Joseph.
Added Benefit: No Income Taxes on a Required Distribution
The IRS Removes Tax-Exempt Status of 275,000 Groups
From Bloomberg Businessweek
The IRS says that 275,000 organizations have automatically lost their tax-exempt status because they failed to file required annual reports over the past three years. The tax agency believes that most of those being stripped of tax-exempt status are now defunct. But it also announced procedures for still-functioning organizations that seek to be reinstated.
The IRS says that in 2010 there were nearly two million tax-exempt organizations, of which about 1.3 million are religious and charitable groups. The list also includes social welfare groups, labor and agriculture organizations, business leagues and war veterans organizations.
The lesson: Give to organizations that you know and trust.
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