NEARLY half of all charitable donations made each year are in the last few months. This is why the IRS is warning people to make sure they’re donating to a legitimate charity.
The holidays may be the best time of the year but it is also a breeding ground for scammers to swindle people out of their money.
The IRS says taxpayers should be on the lookout for fake organizations set up by scammers to take advantage of people’s generosity.
Scammers take advantage of tragedies and disasters, said the IRS.
“Scams requesting donations for disaster relief efforts are especially common over the phone,” read a statement by the revenue service.
“Taxpayers should always check out a charity before they donate, and they should not feel pressured to give immediately.”
Those who give money or goods to a charity may be able to claim a deduction on their federal tax return. However, the donations must go to a qualified charity.
To check the status of a charity, people can use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. Taxpayers can’t deduct gifts to individuals or to political organizations and candidates.
The IRS has offered tips for taxpayers to avoid fake charity scams.
First, a person shouldn’t feel pressured to donate to an organization. A real, legitimate charity is happy to receive a donation at any time, so there should…
