Special Tax Deduction for Cash Donations to Charities in 2020
In the latest post on A Closer Look, Tax Exempt and Government Entities Commissioner Edward Killen reminds taxpayers there’s a special deduction for cash donations of up to $300 to a qualified charity in 2020. This $300 deduction is designed for taxpayers who take the standard deduction and aren’t normally able to deduct their donations.
Before making a donation, use the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool on IRS.gov/TEOS to make sure the charitable organization is eligible for tax-deductible donations.
The post also includes several other important reminders for taxpayers and charities, along with information and links to other temporary provisions of the relief provided in the CARES Act.
IRS Accepting Digital Signatures and Emailed Documents
The IRS issued a memorandum (PDF) that extends (through June 30, 2021) IRS employees’ ability to accept:
- Images of signatures (scanned or photographed) and digital signatures on documents related to the determination or collection of tax liability.
- Documents via email and to transmit documents to taxpayers using some secured messaging systems.
National Tax Security Awareness Week 2020
The IRS, state tax agencies, and the nation’s tax industry recently used the National Tax Security Awareness Week to urge increased security measures as fraudsters attempt to exploit COVID-19 concerns.
