In just a few days, this year will come to an end and we'll all be gathering our information for our tax returns. Making a contribution to a charitable organization now will save you some taxes and help those who make our world a better place!
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Well, Christmas is over and I hope you got what you really wanted. As you might be able to tell, I got a cold for Christmas. I also received thoughtful gifts from family and friends, so I'm counting my blessings. But for some, this has been a challenging year. The markets have been up and down, and almost everyone is concerned about the future, for themselves and for their pets. All across the country animal shelters depend on charitable contributions to keep their doors open. They continue to take in homeless dogs and cats and try to adopt them into new forever homes, hoping they will have sufficient funding to do it.
This is a time of the year when making a contribution to a worthy cause can really help both the donor and the recipient. The charity receiving the contribution gets an obvious benefit – funding to continue providing services needed by the community. And the donor? They get a tangible benefit in the form of a tax deduction that can be taken when they file their tax return next year. So the more money donated means more taxes saved. They also have the satisfaction of knowing they are helping an organization whose mission they believe in and want to support.
If you’re considering making a tax-deductible contribution here at the end of the year, there are a couple of things to consider. If you’re sending a check for the donation, make sure the check is dated by December 31st and that the envelope is postmarked by that date. Then, even if the organization doesn’t receive it until after January 1st, you can still deduct it on your 2015 tax return. You can also donate stock or other securities, although you will have to check with your broker to be sure the transfer can be made in time.
If you are able, I encourage you to consider making a year-end donation to your favorite charity – whether it’s Alabama Public Radio or another worthwhile organization, such as your local animal welfare group. Everyone benefits, important services are supported, and for groups like animal shelters, your donation could literally be a real life-saver, when you’re speaking of pets.
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