Donation to Charity

[PSBMANLIJZM]

I am not married but have a checking account together with my partner. I wrote out and signed checks to a charity throughout the year out of our checking account. The letter from the organization is in my name. Can my partner claim the donation on her taxes if I wrote the checks? We both have direct deposit into the checking account.

[PSBMANLIJZM]

Should have added a bit more information on the letter from the organization. The letter is on the organization's letterhead and includes a reporting period with total contributions.

[DawnC · Accepted solution]

Yes, if donations were made from her account to the charity and no one else also claims the deduction (you both can't claim the deduction).

You can deduct charitable donations if you make them to qualified organizations and you itemize deductions.  Keep your receipts or other documentation for all of your charitable donations with your tax records.

You're not allowed to deduct cash or property given directly to another person, family, or group that isn't a qualified organization.

For noncash donations under $250 in value, you'll need a receipt unless the items were dropped off at an unmanned location such as a clothing bin.

Noncash donations from $250 to $500 in value require a receipt that includes the charity's name, address, date, donation location and description of items donated.

Noncash donations over $500 in value also require a record of how and when the items were acquired and their adjusted basis. If the donation exceeds $5,000 in value, it'll need a written appraisal from a qualified appraiser.

For cash donations under $250, you'll either need a bank record (like a canceled check or bank statement) or a written acknowledgment from the charity which includes the date and amount of your contribution. Bank records are insufficient for cash donations of $250 or more. Instead, you'll need something in writing from the charity which includes the date and amount of your donation.

[PSBMANLIJZM]

I would like to add to my question, if I can split the cash donations. For example, made several cash donations for the year totaling 1,000 to one charitable organization. Could I split the amount in any way between my partner and me? 

[TomK100]

Yes.  You have two options:

1. Enter your charitable donations in our free ItsDeductible program, which is available year-round. When tax time comes, simply import your donations from ItsDeductible into TurboTax.
2. Manually enter your charitable donations directly into TurboTax:
   1. Open your return in TurboTax.
   2. In the search box, search for donations and then select the Jump to link in the search results.
   3. Answer No when asked if you have an ItsDeductible account (even if the answer is yes).
   4. Answer Yes to Do you want to enter your donations for 2021?
   5. Follow the instructions to enter your donations.