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If the standard deduction is taken in 2020, what additional contributions can be taken?
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new deduction available for up to $300 per taxpayer ($600 for a married couple) in annual charitable contributions. You don't have to itemize to claim the deduction, but the same rules apply for documentation
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Emphasis on " the same rules apply for documentation." You actually must have made the donation in order to claim $300/$600.
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Obviously, IRS is not going to audit anyone to check on a $300 donation. And everyone knows that -- this is just the camel's nose under the tent so that the amount can be raised in the future.
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Note that the $300 contribution must be a documented cash/check donation.
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I am getting acquainted with the new 2020 program, and it won't allow $600 for a married couple's contribution, $300 is the max.
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If I put it on a return without client's documentation, I have committed tax fraud.
And if they sign the return, they have committed tax fraud.
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I don't think $300 rises to the level of fraud under the Internal Revenue Code.
I do agree it would be wrong to claim a deduction that was not made and for which client does not have documentation.
The more I know the more I don’t know.
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Please note that @Greta has now asked this as a separate topic, here:
Don't yell at us; we're volunteers
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$600 for a married couple filing jointly works in 2021. I don't know what the max was in 2020; like you I had problems with it in 2020.