No, donations to political candidates and campaigns are not deductible.
Confusion usually arises over the difference between political contributions and charitable contributions. Thus, there are two rules you need to keep in mind:
1) Typically, deductible charitable contributions are those made to organizations that are tax-exempt under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This type of organization is specifically barred from attempting to influence legislation, or participating in any political campaign. Because of this, a political campaign or party will never fall under §501(c)(3). Therefore, political contributions cannot be treated as tax deductible charitable contributions.
2) It’s true that businesses often have an interest in the outcomes of elections,and it shows when looking at their financial involvement in the political landscape. However, the tax code is very specific — stating in most cases no business expense deduction may be claimed for “any amount paid or incurred in connection with influencing legislation.”
