Tax Write-Offs for Donations

There are a variety of tax write-offs that you can take, including deductions for property taxes, student loans and mortgage interest, but many people don't realize that they can also write off charitable donations. When you write off charitable giving, you should keep receipts from charitable organizations, save canceled checks and keep a journal of your charitable activities.

Significance

Tax write-offs for donations are recorded on your 1040 Schedule A ("Itemized Deductions") and reduce your taxable income (see Resources).

Types

You can write off mileage for volunteer activities that you participated in during the tax year.

Types

Whenever you write a check to a charity to donate money, you can write off this amount on Schedule A (see Resources).

Types

When you donate clothing to charities, the market value of the clothing can be deducted. Get a receipt for the clothing donation from the charity.

Types

If you give tithes and offerings to your church throughout the year, this can be written off as well.

Resources

• Form 1040 Schedule A
• Schedule A Instructions