If I recieve money from a GoFundMe campaign I set up to help with my college expenses, how do I claim this on my taxes?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 1, 2019
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I would like to start a campaign for myself to help with school expenses, if I do will I be taxed on this? How do I go about claiming it on my taxes if I do need to report it? I do not want to get into any trouble.

Would it be the same if I set up a fund for someone else to help them out? Do I get taxed? Please help!

TurboTax Free Edition Online

Opus 17

Level 15

If you are not doing anything to get the money (performing a service) then it is a gift and not taxable to you. It is also not a tax deductible donation to the giver, and you should not be issuing kind of receipts that say so. If the dollar amount or number of transactions is over a certain limit you may receive a 1099-K. You don't need to report it as income but keep good records (including proof that you performed no services) in case the IRS asks.

If you sponsor a gofundme for someone else, the best thing is to put the account in the name and tax ID number of the final recipient. If you keep the account in your name it may generate a 1099-K showing income to you. That income is probably not taxable (again, it's gifts), but the IRS may assume it is taxable and require you to prove otherwise.

Any income generated by funds you receive (bank account interest) is taxable to you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rhode/crowdfunding-to-help-a-sick-friend-can-lead-to-a-big-tax-b...

csl0527Author

Level 2

Thank you!
So just that I completely understand: If I set up my own GoFundMe campaign for college expenses - I will not have to claim the money raised on my taxes, nor mention it on my taxes?