Would you continue to give, even if there wasn't a tax deduction for it...
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
October 26, 2011 3:30pm CST
I admit, I take every deduction (business and personal) that I'm allowed. In fact, I pay an accountant every year to maximize my deductions.
I make charitable donations, donate to my church's welfare program, pay tithing, and volunteer with a few organizations.
I also have a couple of businesses, and yes, I deduct mileage, anything I spend on guitar gear, music or anything else I use in my guitar lesson business. I also have an online business, and use every deduction I can legally claim for that.
I keep spreadsheets to help me keep track of it.
But, I can also honestly say that I'd do the same things even if there wasn't a deduction. I can't think of a time I thought, "well, I should buy this, just because I can deduct it". On the other hand, I wouldn't hold it against anyone who did.
As for charitable and church donations. Yeah, I made those long before I started a business, and simply used the "Standard deduction" which was always higher for me, until I started a business.
3 people like this
5 responses
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
27 Oct 11
Yes I would, even if I got over the standard deduction amount, ever..
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
27 Oct 11
Yeah, I donated when I only qualified for the standard deduction too... Being able to itemize my deductions didn't make me any more or less interested in helping my causes.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
27 Oct 11
I do itemize (I have mortgage interest and taxes); but, I only give to charities that I personally support. So, if charitable donations were not deductable; I would still donate. I do not give for the deduction, I give to support the cause.
1 person likes this
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
27 Oct 11
I would continue what I do. I don't take deductions because I volunteer to help people. I feel that me doing work will be far more beneficial to the community and the person(s) I am trying or wanting to help.
I think our tax code needs a good hard look at.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
27 Oct 11
Do you think the people helped by your donations are less helped if you took deductions?
I agree, the tax code is a crime in itself.
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
28 Oct 11
No I don't generally donate money so or if I do Donate money I don't take the Deduction because I generally don't owe anything and basically get what I payed back and then some which makes no sense to me.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
26 Oct 11
Even though I'm self employed I don't make enough to itemize or even pay estimated taxes. I take standard deductions and settle things with my tax return. While I could deduct for expenses, it just isn't worth it.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
27 Oct 11
While it's nice to be able to deduct donations I would continue to donate if I could not get a deduction. I enjoy giving to good causes and wish I could do more. I give to people causes, I don't have enough to help the animals. I was taught that I should help people out in any way I can whether it's time or money I donate. It makes me feel wealthy, too, to be able to have money to give away. I remember when I occasionally couldn't afford to eat for days at a time and I don't want anyone going through that. If I have enough to give, even a little, after I pay my bills I feel that I am blessed with riches. That feeling means more than a tax deduction.
