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Chapter 25. Contributions

Limit on total itemized deductions. If your adjusted gross income is more than
$105,250 ($52,625 if you are married filing separately), the amount of your
total itemized deductions may be limited. See Chapter 21.

Introduction

This chapter discusses:

∙  What a contribution is,

∙  When it is deductible, including:

     What organization(s) it must be given to,

     When it must be given, and

     What limits apply,

∙  What records to keep, and

∙  How to report your deduction.

A charitable contribution is a contribution to, or for the use of, a qualified
organization.

You may deduct charitable contributions you make within your tax year as an
itemized deduction under Gifts to Charity on Schedule A (Form 1040), subject
to certain limits. You may not deduct charitable contributions if you do not
file Form 1040 and itemize your deductions.

Related publications and form.

This chapter refers to publications and a form that you may need. The list of
forms does not include Forms 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ. For more information,
you may want to order the following:

    Publication 526, Charitable Contributions

    Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property

    Schedule A (Form 1040), Itemized Deductions

Checklist of Contributions

Use the following lists for a quick check of the kinds of contributions that
you may or may not deduct. More examples are found later in this chapter.

You May Deduct Contributions of Money or Property to:

∙  Churches, Salvation Army, Red Cross, CARE, Goodwill Industries, United
   Way, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, etc.

∙  Veterans' groups.

∙  Nonprofit schools and hospitals.

∙  Federal, state, and local governments, if the gifts are solely for
   public purposes.

∙  Civil defense organizations.

∙  Public parks and recreation facilities.

You May Not Deduct As Contributions:

∙  Dues, fees, or bills paid to country clubs, lodges, fraternal orders,
   or similar groups.

∙  Cost of raffle, bingo, or lottery tickets.

∙  Tuition.

∙  Value of your time or services.

∙  Value of blood given to a blood bank.

∙  Donations to homeowners associations.

∙  Gifts to:

     Individuals

     Foreign organizations

     Groups that are run for personal profit

     Groups whose purpose is to lobby for changes in the laws

     Civic leagues, social and sports clubs, labor unions, and chambers
     of commerce.

∙  Political contributions.

Qualified Organizations

Any organization can tell you if it is a qualified organization. Most
qualified organizations are listed in IRS Publication 78, Cumulative List
of Organizations. You may deduct a contribution you made to, or for the
use of, the following qualified organizations.

   A state, a U.S. possession (including Puerto Rico), a political
   subdivision of a state or possession, the United States, or the District
   of Columbia, if the contribution is made for public purposes only. An
   Indian tribal government and any of its subdivisions that are recognized
   by the Secretary of the Treasury as performing substantial government
   functions will be treated as a state for purposes of the charitable
   contributions deduction.

   A community chest, corporation, trust, fund, or foundation organized
   or created in or under the laws of the United States, any state, the
   District of Columbia, or any possession of the United States. The
   organization must be organized and operated only for charitable,
   religious, educational, scientific, or literary purposes. It may also
   be for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals. Certain
   organizations that foster national or international amateur sports
   competition are also included.

   War veterans' organizations, including posts, auxiliaries, trusts,
   or foundations organized in the United States or its possessions.

   Domestic fraternal societies operating under the lodge system, if the
   contribution is to be used only for charitable, religious, scientific,
   literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to
   children or animals.

   Nonprofit cemetery companies, if the contribution can be used only for
   the perpetual care of the cemetery as a whole, and not for a particular
   lot or mausoleum crypt.

Examples of qualified organizations. Qualified organizations include:

∙  Nonprofit volunteer fire companies.

∙  Civil defense organizations.

∙  Public parks and recreation facilities.

∙  Nonprofit hospitals and medical research organizations.

∙  Churches, a convention or association of churches, temples, synagogues,
   or other religious organizations.

∙  Most nonprofit educational organizations, including day care centers if
   substantially all the child care provided is to enable individuals (the
   parents) to be gainfully employed and the services are available to the
   general public. However, if your contribution is a substitute for tuition
   or other enrollment fee, it is not deductible as a charitable contribution,
   as explained later under Nondeductible Contributions.

∙  Utility company emergency energy programs, if the utility company is
   an agent for a charitable organization that assists individuals with
   emergency energy needs.

∙  Most nonprofit charitable organizations.

Deductible Contributions

Generally, you may deduct your contributions of money or property that you
make to, or for the use of, qualified organizations. A gift or contribution
is "for the use of" a qualified organization when it is held in a legally
enforceable trust for the qualified organization or in a similar legal
arrangement.

If you give property to a qualified organization, you generally may deduct the
fair market value of the property at the time of the contribution. See Gifts
of Property, later in this chapter.

Your deduction for charitable contributions is generally limited to 50% of
your adjusted gross income, but in some cases 20% and 30% limits may apply.
See Limit on Deductions, later.

Benefits Received

If you contribute to a charitable organization and also receive a benefit
from it, you may deduct only the amount that is more than the value of the
benefit you receive. If you pay more than fair market value to a qualified
organization for merchandise, goods, or services, the amount you pay that is
more than the value of the item may be a charitable contribution.

Example 1. You pay $75 for a dinner-dance at a church. All of the proceeds of
the function go to the church. If the dinner, plus any entertainment or other
services provided, has a fair market value of $25, the excess paid, $50, is a
contribution to the church.

Example 2. At a fund-raising auction conducted by a charity, you pay $600 for
a week's occupancy of a house at the beach. The amount you pay is no more than
the fair rental value. You have not made a deductible charitable contribution.

Athletic events. If you make a payment to or for the benefit of a college
or university and, as a result, you receive the right to buy tickets for an
athletic event in the athletic stadium of the college or university, 80% of
the payment is a charitable contribution.

If any part of your payment is for tickets (rather than the right to buy
tickets), that part is not deductible, but 80% of the remaining part is a
charitable contribution.

Example. You pay $300 annually for membership in an athletic scholarship
program maintained by a university (a qualified organization). The only
benefit of membership is that you are entitled to buy one season ticket to
the university's home football games for a seat in a designated area of the
stadium, for a stated price of $120. 80% of the $300 payment, or $240, is a
charitable contribution.

Benefit performances, etc. If you pay more than fair market value to a
qualified organization for charity balls, banquets, shows, sporting events,
etc., you may deduct only the amount that is more than the value of the
privileges or other benefits you receive.

If there is an established charge for the event, that charge will determine
the value of your benefit. If there is no set charge, only that part of your
payment that is more than the reasonable value of your benefit is a gift.
Whether you use the tickets or other privileges has no effect on the
amount you may deduct. However, if you return the ticket to the qualified
organization for resale, you may deduct the amount you paid.

The fact that the ticket or other evidence of payment indicates that the
payment is a "contribution" does not necessarily mean you can deduct the
entire amount. If the ticket shows the price of admission and the amount
of the gift, you can deduct the gift amount.

Example. You pay $40 to see a special showing of a movie for the benefit of a
qualified organization. Printed on the ticket is "Contribution-$40." If the
regular price for the movie is $8, your contribution is $32.

Token items. If you receive only low-cost token items (such as bookmarks,
calendars, mugs, or caps) bearing the organization's name or logo in
connection with your payment, you may be able to deduct the entire payment as
a charitable contribution. You must be notified by the charity that the item
you received is of insubstantial value and that the payment can be deducted in
full.

Dues, fees, or assessments are deductible if you pay them to qualified
organizations. However, you may deduct only the amount that is more than
the value of the benefits you receive. You may not deduct dues, fees, or
assessments paid to country clubs and other social organizations.

Student Living With You

If you pay the costs of a student who lives in your home, you may deduct up to
$50 a month of the amount you pay. The student may be foreign or American, but
must not be your dependent or relative. The student must be a member of your
household under a written agreement between you and a qualified organization.
The purpose of the agreement must be to provide educational opportunities for
the student.

You may deduct up to $50 of your expenses for each full calendar month of your
tax year during which the student is:

1)  A member of your household, and

2)  A full-time student in the 12th or lower grade at a school located in the
    United States.

A period of 15 or more days in a month counts as a full calendar month for
this purpose.

You may not deduct the costs of a foreign student living in your home under
a mutual exchange program whereby your child will live with a family in a
foreign country.

For additional information, see Student Living With You in Publication 526,
Charitable Contributions.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

You may deduct some amounts you pay in giving services to a charitable
organization. The amounts must be:

   Unreimbursed,

   Directly connected with the services,

   Solely attributable to the services, and

   Not personal, living, or family expenses.

Conventions. If you are a chosen representative attending a convention of a
qualified organization, you may deduct actual unreimbursed expenses for travel
and transportation, including a reasonable amount for meals and lodging, while
away from home overnight in connection with the convention. However, see
Travel, later.

You may not deduct personal expenses for sightseeing, fishing parties, theater
tickets, or nightclubs. You also may not deduct travel, meals and lodging, and
other expenses for your spouse or children.

You may not deduct your expenses in attending a church convention if you go
only as a member of your church rather than as a chosen representative. You
may deduct unreimbursed expenses that are directly connected with giving
services for your church during the convention.

Uniforms. You may deduct the cost and upkeep of uniforms that you must wear
while performing donated services for a charitable organization if they are
not suitable for everyday use.

Foster parents. If you are a foster parent (foster care provider) and have
no profit motive in providing foster care, you may deduct expenses you pay
that exceed any nontaxable payments you receive to provide foster care for
individuals placed in your home by a charitable organization. The expenses
must be amounts spent to provide support for the individual. For more
information, see Foster-care providers under Income Not Taxed in Chapter 13.

Car expenses. You may deduct unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses, such as
the cost of gas and oil, that are directly related to the use of your car in
giving services to a charitable organization. You may not deduct any part of
general repair and maintenance expenses, depreciation, or insurance.

If you do not want to deduct your actual expenses, you may use a standard rate
of 12 cents a mile to figure your contribution.

You may deduct parking fees and tolls, whether you use your actual expenses
or the standard rate.

Travel. You may claim a charitable contribution deduction for travel expenses
necessarily incurred while you are away from home performing services for a
charitable organization only if there is no significant element of personal
pleasure, recreation, or vacation in such travel. This applies whether you pay
the expenses directly, or indirectly through reimbursement by the charitable
organization. An arrangement whereby you make a payment to the charitable
organization and the organization pays for your travel expenses is treated
as a reimbursement.

The deduction will not be denied simply because you enjoy providing services
to the charitable organization.

Example 1. You are a troop leader for a tax-exempt youth group and take the
group on a camping trip. You may qualify to take a charitable deduction for
your own travel expenses if you are on duty in a genuine and substantial sense
throughout the trip, even though you enjoyed the trip. However, if you have
only nominal duties relating to the performance of services for the charity,
or for significant portions of the trip you are not required to render
services, you may not take a charitable deduction for travel expenses.

Example 2. You sail from one island to another and spend 8 hours a day
counting whales and other forms of marine life. The project is sponsored by
a charitable organization. In most circumstances, no charitable deduction is
allowed for the expenses you incur.

Example 3. You work for several hours each morning on an archaeological
excavation sponsored by a charitable organization. The rest of the day is free
for recreation and sightseeing. No charitable deduction is allowed even though
you work very hard during those few hours.

Example 4. You spend the entire day attending a charitable organization's
regional meeting. In the evening you go to the theater. You can claim your
travel expenses as charitable contributions.

Daily allowance (per diem). If you provide services for a charitable
organization and receive a daily allowance to cover reasonable travel
expenses, including meals and lodging while away from home overnight, include
in income the amount that is more than your actual travel expenses. You may
deduct your necessary travel expenses that are more than the allowance.

Deductible travel expenses include:

∙  Air, rail, and bus transportation,

∙  Out-of-pocket expenses for your car,

∙  Taxi fares or other costs of transportation between the airport or
   station and your hotel,

∙  Lodging costs, and

∙  The cost of meals.

For additional information, see Travel Expenses in Chapter 28.

When Deductible

To deduct your contributions, you must make them in cash or other property
before the close of your tax year. This applies whether you use the cash or
accrual method of accounting.

Usually, you make a contribution at the time of its unconditional delivery.
For example, a check that you mail to a charity is considered delivered on the
date you mail it. If you use a pay-by-phone account, the date reported on the
statement of the financial institution showing when payment was made is the
date of payment.

The gift to a charity of a properly endorsed stock certificate is completed
on the date of mailing or other delivery to the charity or to the charity's
agent. However, if you give a stock certificate to your agent or to the
issuing corporation for transfer to the name of the charity, your gift is
not completed until the date the stock is transferred on the books of the
corporation.

If you issue and deliver a promissory note to a charitable organization as
a contribution, it is not a contribution until you make the note payments.
Similarly, if you grant an option to buy real property at a bargain price to
a charitable organization, no deduction is allowed until the organization
exercises the option.

If you make a contribution with borrowed funds, a deduction is allowed in
the year you make the contribution, regardless of when you repay the loan.
Contributions charged on your bank credit card are deductible in the year you
make the charge.

Nondeductible Contributions

A number of contributions are not deductible. You may not deduct a contribution
to a specific individual, or to an organization which does not qualify to
receive charitable contributions. You may not deduct a contribution to a
qualifying organization to the extent you receive a reimbursement or financial
or economic benefit. You may not claim a deduction for the value of your time
or services, or for personal, living, or family expenses. Nor generally may
you deduct a contribution of a partial interest in property or a right to use
property. Specific contributions which fall into these general categories are
discussed below.

Nonqualified organizations. Some organizations are not qualified to receive
tax-deductible contributions. Contributions to the following organizations,
for example, are not deductible:

∙  Chambers of commerce and other business leagues or organizations,

∙  Civic leagues,

∙  Communist organizations,

∙  Country clubs and other social clubs,

∙  Homeowners associations,

∙  Most foreign organizations, and

∙  Political organizations and candidates.

Appraisal fees that you pay to find the fair market value of donated property
are not deductible as contributions. You may claim them, subject to the 2% of
adjusted gross income limit, as miscellaneous deductions on Schedule A (Form
1040). See Chapter 30.

Blood donated to the Red Cross or to blood banks is not deductible.

Contributions to a fraternal society used to pay sickness or burial expenses
of members are not deductible.

Direct contributions made to a foreign organization are not deductible.
However, you may deduct contributions to a U.S. organization that transfers
funds to a charitable foreign organization if the U.S. organization controls
the use of the funds, or if the foreign organization is only an administrative
arm of the U.S. organization.

Exception. Under an income tax treaty with Canada, you may be able to deduct
contributions to certain Canadian charitable organizations. See Publication
597, Information on the United States-Canada Income Tax Treaty, for
information on how to figure your deduction.

Direct contributions to needy or worthy individuals are not deductible. The
contributions must be made to or for the use of a qualified organization and
not earmarked by you for the use of a specific person.

Donation of use of property. If you permit a charitable organization to use
your property, you may not deduct the value of its use. For example, you
may not deduct the value of the use of your land by a church for a picnic.
However, see Partial interest in property, later.

Dues to labor unions are not charitable contributions. You may deduct them as
a miscellaneous expense, subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income limit, on
Schedule A (Form 1040). See Chapter 30.

Earmarked for lobbying. Contributions to a qualified organization that are
earmarked for use in or in connection with influencing specific legislation
are not deductible.

Payments to a hospital for care of particular patients or for services
provided to such patients are not deductible as contributions, even if the
hospital is operated by a city, a state, or a qualified organization.

Pre-adoption expenses of keeping a child in your home before the child is
adopted may not be deducted as a contribution. However, you may be able to
claim an exemption for the child. See Adoption in Chapter 3.

Raffles, bingo, etc. You may not deduct as charitable contributions amounts
you pay to a charitable organization to buy raffle tickets or to play bingo or
other games of chance. See Gambling losses to the extent of gambling winnings
in Chapter 30.

Retirement homes. You cannot deduct a gift you pay to a retirement home
operated by a qualified organization if you receive financial or economic
benefits reasonably equal to the gift. An amount clearly for room, board,
maintenance, or admittance is not a charitable contribution. A gift based upon
the apartment or facilities to be occupied is not a charitable contribution.

Tuition, or amounts you pay instead of tuition, are not deductible as
contributions, even if they are paid for children who attend parochial schools
or qualifying nonprofit day care centers. A fixed amount, designated as a
"donation," that is required to be paid to a private school in addition to
the tuition fee as a condition of enrollment is not deductible.

Volunteers

In addition to the above rules on out-of-pocket expenses, the following items
are of special interest to volunteers.

Value of your time or services. You may not claim a deduction for the value
of your time or services that you contribute to a qualified organization.

Child care expenses. Payments that you make for the care of your children
while you perform services for a qualified organization are not deductible.

Expenses of others. You cannot claim a charitable deduction for expenses you
paid for another person who provided services to a qualified organization.

Example. Your son does missionary work. You pay his expenses. You may not
claim a deduction for your son's unreimbursed expenses incident to his
contribution of services.

Gifts of Property

If you donate property to a qualified organization, generally the fair market
value of the property at the time of the contribution is the amount of your
charitable contribution. However, if the property has increased in value, you
may have to make some adjustments. See Giving Property That Has Increased in
Value, later.

For information about the records you must keep and the information you must
furnish with your return if you donate property, see Recordkeeping and How to
Report, later.

Partial interest in property. Generally, no deduction is allowed for a
charitable contribution, not made by a transfer in trust, of less than your
entire interest in property. A contribution of the right to use property,
not made by a transfer in trust, is a contribution of less than your entire
interest in that property and is not deductible. For exceptions and more
information, see Partial Interest in Property in Publication 561.

Future interests in tangible personal property. You may deduct the value of
a charitable contribution of a future interest in tangible personal property
only after all intervening interests in and rights to the actual possession or
enjoyment of the property have either expired or been turned over to someone
other than yourself or a related party or a related organization.

A future interest is any interest that is to begin at some future time,
regardless of whether it is designated as a future interest under state law.

Determining Fair Market Value

This section discusses general guidelines for determining the fair market
value of various types of donated property. Fair market value is the price
at which property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing
seller, neither having to buy or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge
of all the relevant facts. A more comprehensive discussion can be found in
Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property.

Used clothing and household goods. Generally, the fair market value of used
clothing and household goods is far less than its original cost.

For used clothing, you should claim as the value the price that buyers of used
items actually pay in used clothing stores, such as consignment or thrift
shops.

See Household Goods in Publication 561 for information on the valuation of
household goods, such as furniture, appliances, and linens.

Cars, boats, and aircraft. If you donate a car, boat, or aircraft, its fair
market value must be determined.

Certain commercial firms and trade organizations publish monthly or seasonal
guides, for different regions of the country, containing complete dealer sale
prices or dealer average prices for recent model years. These guides also
provide estimates for adjusting for unusual equipment, unusual mileage, and
physical condition. The prices are not "official" and these publications are
not considered an appraisal of any specific donated property. But they do
provide clues for making an appraisal and suggest relative prices for
comparison with current sales and offerings in your area.

Example. You donate your car to a local high school for use by their students
studying automobile repair. Your credit union told you that the "blue book"
value of the car is $1,600. However, your car needs extensive repairs and,
after some checking, you find that you would not be able to sell it for more
than $750. You may deduct $750, the true fair market value of the car, as a
charitable contribution.

Large quantities. If you contribute a large number of the same item, fair
market value is the price at which comparable numbers of the item are being
sold.

Giving Property That Has Increased in Value

If you donate property with a fair market value that is more than your
basis in it, you may have to reduce the fair market value by the amount
of appreciation (increase in value) when you figure your deduction.

Ordinary income property. Property is ordinary income property if its sale
at fair market value on the date it was contributed would have resulted in
ordinary income or in short-term capital gain. Examples of ordinary income
property are inventory, works of art created by the donor, manuscripts
prepared by the donor, and capital assets held one year or less.

The deduction for a gift of ordinary income property is its fair market value
less the amount that would be ordinary income or short-term capital gain if
the property were sold at its fair market value. Generally, this rule limits
the deduction to your basis in the property.

Example. You donate stock that you held for 5 months to your church. The value
of the stock is $1,000, but you paid only $800 (your basis). Because the $200
of appreciation would be short-term capital gain if you sold the stock, your
deduction is limited to $800 (fair market value less the appreciation).

Capital gain property. Property is capital gain property if its sale at fair
market value on the date of the contribution would have resulted in long-term
capital gain. It includes capital assets held more than one year, as well as
certain real property and depreciable property used in your trade or business
and, generally, held more than one year.

You usually may deduct a gift of capital gain property at its fair market
value. However, in certain situations, the fair market value is reduced to
the property's cost or other basis.

Bargain sales. A bargain sale of property to a qualified organization (a
sale or exchange at less than the property's fair market value) is partly a
charitable contribution and partly a sale or exchange. A bargain sale may
result in a taxable gain.

For more information on donated appreciated property, see Giving Property
That Has Increased in Value in Publication 526.

Giving Property That Has Decreased in Value

If you donate property with a fair market value that is less than your basis
in it, your deduction is limited to fair market value. You may not claim a
deduction for the difference between the property's basis and its fair market
value.

Limit on Deductions

If your total contributions for the year are 20% or less of your adjusted
gross income (line 32, Form 1040), they are fully deductible (provided
they otherwise qualify and are not subject to the limit on total itemized
deductions), and it is not necessary to figure whether the limits discussed
here apply.

If your contributions are more than 20% of your adjusted gross income, the
amount of your deduction may be limited to either 20%, 30%, or 50% of your
adjusted gross income, depending on the type of property you give and the type
of organization you give it to.

Your maximum charitable contribution deduction is 50% of your adjusted gross
income for the year. Adjusted gross income is not reduced by net operating
loss carrybacks due to losses you have in later tax years.

The 50% limit applies to gifts (other than capital gain property deducted
at fair market value) to organizations listed below under 50% limit
organizations.

The 30% limit applies to:

∙  Gifts for the use of any organization, and

∙  Gifts (other than capital gain property) to all qualified organizations
   other than 50% limit organizations. This includes gifts to veterans'
   organizations, fraternal societies, nonprofit cemeteries, and certain
   private nonoperating foundations.

A special 30% limit applies to gifts of capital gain property (if deducted at
fair market value) to 50% limit organizations (but see the rules for electing
the 50% limit for capital gain property under How to Figure Your Deduction in
Publication 526).

The 20% limit applies to gifts of capital gain property to all qualified
organizations other than 50% limit organizations.

50% limit organizations. The following are 50% limit organizations:

1)  Churches, or conventions or associations of churches,

2)  All public charities,

3)  All private operating foundations,

4)  Private nonoperating foundations that make qualifying distributions of
    100% of contributions within 2-1/2 months following the year they receive
    the contribution, and

5)  Certain private foundations whose contributions are pooled in a common
    fund, the income and principal of which are paid to public charities.

The organization will be able to tell you if the contributions you make to
it qualify for the 50% limit.

If you have contributed amounts that are subject to a 20% or a 30% limit,
see Limit on Deductions in Publication 526 for more information.

Carryovers. You may carry over your contributions that you are not able to
deduct in the current year because they exceed your adjusted gross income
limit. You may deduct the excess in each of the next 5 years until it is
used up, but not beyond that time. For more information, see Carryovers
in Publication 526.

Recordkeeping and How to Report

You are required to keep records to prove the amount of the cash and noncash
contributions you make during the year. The kind of records you must keep
depends on the amount of your contributions and whether they are cash or
noncash contributions.

Cash contributions. If you make a charitable contribution of money, you must
keep one of the following for each contribution you make:

1)  A canceled check,

2)  A receipt (or a letter or other written communication) from the
    charitable organization showing the name of the organization, the date
    of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution, or

3)  Other reliable written records that include the information described in
    (2). Records may be considered reliable if they were made at or near the
    time of the contribution, were regularly kept by you, or if, in the case
    of small donations, you have emblems, buttons, or other tokens that are
    regularly given to persons making small cash contributions.

Form 1040. Enter on line 13, Schedule A (Form 1040), the contributions you
made in cash or by check (including out-of-pocket expenses).

Enter on line 14, Schedule A (Form 1040), your contributions other than cash
or check.

Noncash contributions. The records you must keep and the forms you must file
depend on whether your deductions for contributions of property other than
money total:

1)  $500 or less,

2)  Over $500 but not more than $5,000, or

3)  Over $5,000.

Deductions of $500 or less. If you make a noncash contribution, you must get
and keep a receipt from the charitable organization showing:

1)  The name of the charitable organization,

2)  The date and location of the charitable contribution, and

3)  A reasonably detailed description of the property.

A letter or other written communication from the charitable organization
acknowledging receipt of the contribution and containing the information in
(1), (2), and (3) will serve as a receipt. You are not required to have a
receipt where it is impractical to get one. In all cases, you must keep
reliable written records for each item of donated property.

Your written records must include the following:

1)  The name and address of the organization to which you contributed.

2)  The date and location of the contribution.

3)  A description of the property in detail reasonable under the
    circumstances. For a security, give the name of the issuer, the type of
    security, and whether it is regularly traded on a stock exchange or in
    an over-the-counter market.

4)  The fair market value of the property at the time of the contribution,
    and how you figured the fair market value. If it was determined by
    appraisal, keep a signed copy of the appraisal.

5)  The cost or other basis of the property if you must reduce its fair
    market value by appreciation, the amount of the reduction, and how you
    figured it. If you choose the 50% limit instead of the special 30% limit
    on certain capital gain property, you must keep a record showing the
    years for which you made the choice, contributions for the current year,
    and carryovers from preceding years to which the choice applies. See How
    to Figure Your Deduction in Publication 526 for information on how to
    make the capital gain property election.

6)  The amount you claim as a deduction for the tax year as a result of the
    contribution. If you contribute less than your entire interest in the
    property during the tax year, you must show the amount you claimed as a
    deduction in any earlier years for contributions of other interests in
    this property. You must also include the name and address of each
    organization to which you contributed the other interests, the place
    where any such tangible property is located or kept, and the name of the
    person who has possession of the property, if it is someone other than
    the organization to which you contributed.

7)  The terms of any conditions attached to the gift of property.

If the gift was a "qualified conservation contribution," your records must
also include the fair market value of the underlying property before and after
the gift, the type of legal interest donated, and the conservation purpose
furthered by the gift. See Qualified conservation contribution in Publication
561 for more information.

Deductions over $500. You are required to give additional information if you
claim a deduction over $500 for noncash charitable contributions. In addition,
you must file Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions. See Recordkeeping
and How to Report in Publication 526 for more information.