In applying for a Catholic annulment, the archdioces of Washington requests an offering to defray the administrative expenses related to evaluating one's petition. The requested offering isn't small ($750) but it's not unreasonable given the work involved. It is not necessary to give the suggested amount to go through the annulment process and it won't delay it or anything. Since they label it an "offering", would this be a legitimate charitable tax deduction?
2006-09-20 11:12:11 · 5 answers · asked by hawkthree 6 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
Since it's not required and will not hasten the process, you seem to be getting nothing in return. In that case, it should be considered a contribution.
2006-09-20 11:40:15 · answer #1 · answered by TaxGuru 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The technically correct answer is that the $750 would not be deductible because you received something of value in return. For example if you buy girl scout cookies for $5 and they are similar as the ones you could buy in a store for $2 you can only take a $3 deduction because you received $2 in value. Now would you be the first person to deduct the $750 and never have it questioned? Of course not. So it is your call. Most people write a check with the name of the church on it and nothing other than offering in the note and claim all of it.
2006-09-20 21:03:22 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure about an annulment. I know if you attend a charity dinner, you have to deduct the value of the dinner from the ticket price to determine the amount you can deduct. I believe the same rule would apply.
2006-09-20 19:29:06 · answer #3 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It probably won't matter unless you itemize your deductions, and if you do that I assume you have an accountant - that person will most likely know for sure. As I understand it its more like a fee that is waived or adjusted if you can't pay it, but if they're willing to give you a receipt with their tax ID # on it you'd probably be OK.
2006-09-20 18:40:20 · answer #4 · answered by g_tastyfish 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah probably... claim it as part of your regular tithing.. if it's important to you to have a religious annulment so that you may be married in the church again later.. then you have to do what you have to do .. but if it's not.. then you can just do it through the court system.. you'll have to do that anyway..
2006-09-20 18:21:18 · answer #5 · answered by limgrn_maria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋