The records you must keep depend on whether all contributions to a specific charity on a given date total less than $250, or $250 or more. You do not need to attach documentation to your tax return. However, the IRS expects you to have this documentation on hand in the event of an audit.
To determine how to record your donations, consider the following:
Combine all donations to an organization on a single day.
Do not combine donations on different days. For example, if you donated $150 to an organization one day and then donated an additional $150 a month later, then you should enter each donation separately.
Count each payroll deduction as a separate donation.
If you made a donation that is partly for goods and services received, your contribution is the amount of the donation minus the value of the goods and services that you received.
For example, If you paid $100 to attend a benefit dinner and the actual cost of the dinner was $40, then your contribution is $60—the amount of the donation ($100) minus the value of the dinner ($40).
For cash donations of less than $250, you can use any of the following forms of documentation:
A canceled check
A legible account statement that includes the following details:
Checking—check number, amount, date posted, and payee
Credit card—amount, transaction date, and payee
Electronic transfer—amount, date posted, and payee
Receipt or written acknowledgement from the charity showing its name, the date, and the amount you donated
Any written record made at or near the time of the contribution that lists the charity’s name, the date, and the amount you donated
For individual cash donations of $250 or more, you must get documentation from the charitable organization by the time you file your return for that year. If you file late or get an extension, you have until that date to provide documentation.
The charitable organization’s written receipt or acknowledgement of your donation must include:
The amount of the contribution.
Any goods or services that you received, if any, other than certain token items or membership benefits.
A good faith estimate of the value of any goods or services that you received due to your donation.
The charity may provide either a separate statement for each donation or periodic statements substantiating your donations.
For more information, see Documenting Charitable Donations in the H&R Block Guide to Charitable Donations and Tax Planning.