Can I claim Charitable gifts in Canada as an itemized expense on my 1040? Or since I don't have Canadian income, am I not eligible to deduct those?

[Nathan]

Hello!  I am posted in Canada on a U.S. Govt job so I derive income from the U.S. only.  I'd like to give charitable gifts of money to charities in Canada that would qualify as a charity by the IRS.  Can I claim those gifts as an itemized expense on my 1040? Or since I don't have Canadian income, am I not eligible to deduct those?

Thank you very much!

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

If the Canadian charity is a recognized charitable organization you can deduct your contribution on Form 1040 Schedule A.  You would need Canadian income to have your charitable contribution to the Canadian charity deducted on a US tax return.

Use this IRS Exempt Organizations Select Search Tool to verify that the organization is a recognized charity for tax deduction purposes - https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-select-check

[TaxGuyBill]

For the most part, the only "Qualified Organizations" are US based.  You can check the IRS link, but most Canadian charitable organizations do NOT count.
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/ar02.html#en_US_2015_publink1000229641">https://www.irs.gov/pu...>

The exception is if you have Canadian income AND it is an organization that is covered in the US-Canada Tax Treaty.
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/ar02.html#en_US_2015_publink1000229645">https://www.irs.gov/pu...>
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/canada.pdf#page=25">https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/canada.pdf#pag...>

[DoninGA]

Another lesson learned on Canadian sourced income for charities....Thanks again Bill.

[DoninGA]

Edit answer....