chaucers_pal

And the problem with proof for a tax deduction is?

If I need to itemize my medical expenses on my taxes, I don't see it as unreasonable to be able to show that I actually paid for the medical care I'm claiming.

Same thing if I donate to a local charity. Why shouldn't I have to show a receipt for my donation? And that it's a donation, not a payment for service?

For example, some charities run day care, and add a donation to the weekly fee. Only the donation is tax deductible, not the entire amount of day care. (Although this is a tricky example, because day care also has some tax implications.)

RoraMom

Another POV on this topic that I've been thinking about is that families that place a high priority on charitable giving may well be very good investments for colleges. In my experience, families that give - be it to the church, the school booster clubs, the local humane society, hospital guild, etc. are probably very likely to add the college's 501(c)3 and related entities.

I know I give a large percentage of my income, though it's a small amount in the grand scheme to various charities that have touched my son and I in different ways. I've already decided that this coming fall, instead of the usual donation to the PTA, I'll be writing that check to one of the funds at his college. I'm also good at fundraising, (and know folks with deeper pockets than I have) so I'm thinking of ways to have them contribute to the college.

Does this make sense to anyone but me?

LurkNessMonster

Maybe I'm missing something here, but if the tithing and other charitable donations are tax deductible, that reduces the AGI, and that in turn should reduce the EFC. Thus, you would get "credit" for tithing.

happymomof1

I've been thinking more and more about this since I saw the first post. And I find that I have a problem with the original poster's assumption that just because their family has been making sizable charitable donations all along to various organizations, they believe that other people who they probably don't even know should be the ones whose sizable charitable donations will fund their child's education.

Does it not make more sense that this family should do what they can to educate their child for four years and drop those organizations for a while? Can they not consider that the "charity" they need to contribute the most to is their own child's well-being?

I know this requires reorganizing one's thoughts a bit. We went through it when we became responsible for happygrandmother's financial support and had to eliminate all previously habitual charitable contributions in order to balance our budget. I look on it as giving directly to the most needy cause.

Hunt

"Maybe I'm missing something here, but if the tithing and other charitable donations are tax deductible, that reduces the AGI, and that in turn should reduce the EFC. Thus, you would get "credit" for tithing."

You're right. Also, to the extent they gave it to the charity, they don't have it to be counted as savings, either.

OneMom

Colleges need to fill the seats, and only have a certain amount of financial aid to work with. Maybe you could ask them for special consideration. They routinely take hardship into consideration. Some may be willing to hear you out.

dlesk

its absurd to expect special treatment for wasting your money on supporting a superstition