I gave money to my church but designated it to a pastor who was leaving the church. It was being collected as a love gift for him. Is it deductible on my Schedule A?
2007-01-30 02:35:38 · 5 answers · asked by rvb59 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
Contributions to Individuals
You cannot deduct contributions to specific individuals, including:
Payments to a member of the clergy that can be spent as he or she wishes, such as for personal expenses.
Publication 526http://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/ar02.html#d0e611
2007-01-30 02:48:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That was a big mistake. The pastor of a church here was just charged with embezzling $250,000. in church funds. He did it by having checks made out to him instead of to the church. The real damage may be over $1 mil.
Check with a tax accountant to see if it is deductible.
2007-01-30 10:40:23 · answer #2 · answered by notyou311 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like you got taken advantage of. No it's not deductible. It's just as if you wrote a check to a friend, you can't deduct it even for being nice.
2007-01-30 10:42:46 · answer #3 · answered by CSUflyer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. If a contribution is designated for a particular person, it isn't deductible.
2007-01-30 11:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope, it was a gift and a gift is not a deduction.
2007-01-30 10:38:41 · answer #5 · answered by Munya Says: DUH! 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋