If I don't itemize my federal return, is there any way that I can claim a tax break for charitable gifts? I mad a few small ones and would like to include them. Thanks for anything you know!
If you don't itemize you can't take them off on your fed tax return. Kinda sucks because they tried to pass something for last tax year to let you take off $250 in chartible giving without having to itemize and it didn't pass.
Yeah, I remembered that they were trying to pass that but couldn't recall if it had or not. That's a bummer. Not that I wouldn't give anyway, but it really leaves no incentive for younger folks, many of whom don't itemize, to think about giving to charities. Sigh.
I know what you mean. Did you have any student loans? I know you can take the interest off but I can't remember exactly what section it falls under. If you had enough with that and the charity giving it might bump you up enough to itemize.