Can I deduct the value of volunteer work I do for the church?
No, the value of volunteer work you do for the church can never be a contribution.
If I do some work around the church and get reimbursed for my labor and the items I purchased to complete the job can I just ask them to add this amount to my contribution statement?
No, the church is not allowed to add this amount to your contribution statement, but they can cut you a check and then you give that money back to the church. It would be best to cash the church check and then write a personal check to the church, but you can just endorse the church check back over to the church.
The church had a youth retreat and I paid for both of my sons to go to this retreat and the cost of the retreat was $150 per child. Can this money be considered as a contribution to the church?
No, anytime you receive any goods or services for your payment of cash then you cannot count it as a contribution.
One of the families in our church was having a financial crisis, so I gave the church $1,000 to give to this family. This contribution is to the church, correct?
No, an individual cannot give a family a gift through the church and count it as a contribution.
The church found out that a family was having a financial crisis, so the benevolent committee let the church know that they were collecting an offering for this family. I gave
the church $1,000 to give to this family. This contribution is to the church, correct?
Yes, when a church decides to help a family in need and you, an individual, give towards a benevolent need then that money is a contribution to the church, because the church is the one that initiated the offering.
Is there a limit to the amount that I can contribute to my church and still count it as a contribution on my tax return?
Yes, a contribution ordinarily cannot exceed 50 percent of a donor’s adjusted gross income for the year. Donors who exceed this limit may be able to “carry over” their excess to future years, but you need to consult a tax lawyer for clarification.
I, as a member of the church, decided that I wanted to designate $10,000 to the church. I insisted that this money be spent to buy a new musical instrument, which the church has not even thought about purchasing. Is this money a contribution?
No, an individual cannot designate money to a fund of his/her own choosing, but if the fund is already in existence then this gift would be a contribution. Churches need to be careful how they handle this kind of gift.
