When making gifts to charities, keep in mind the following:
- Give away appreciated stock which you have held for more than a year. You can deduct the market value of the stock, and you do not owe capital gains tax.
- Get receipts in writing from the donee for gifts over $250.
- If you are over 70 1/2 years old, transfer up to $100,000 from an IRA to charity and none will be included in your income. It will also count toward the required minimum distribution.
- If you donate a car, you can deduct only what the charity actually sells it for.
Consult your estate planning attorney for further information.