This brief discusses the abuse of tax deductions intended to encourage conservation of environmentally friendly land and historic buildings. This abuse is on the rise and a key policy question is whether this tax expenditure represents a good return on the scarce dollars the federal government...
The US tax system provides a deduction for charitable giving, but only for the 25 percent of taxpayers who itemize deductions on their tax returns. Accordingly, advocates for the charitable sector have at times proposed to extend a deduction to itemizers and nonitemizers alike. Today these...
Volunteers are extremely valuable to the charitable sector: Urban Institute researchers estimated the value of their labor at $163 billion in 2013. Though charitable contributions can be deducted from income taxes, volunteers cannot deduct the value of their labor. By economic consensus,...
Tax policies in the U.S. increase the incentive to donate to charity among those who itemize their deductions, and most of the tax revenue cost goes to subsidize donations made by relatively high-income people. Several types of empirical evidence which I review here suggest that the donation...
This paper attempts to better understand rhetoric over the charitable contributions deduction, arguing that debate surrounding the deduction is ultimately a projection of more fundamental debates relating to the theme of government versus charity. The phrase "government versus charity" can mean...
This paper attempts first to clarify tax rules concerning charitable contributions by reorganizing section 170 and simplifying the language, where possible, so that the operative rules will be clearer. In addition, a revision of the estate and gift tax provisions, intended to increase uniformity...
Extending the charitable deduction deadline is a move with precedent: the government has used it to encourage giving following a natural disaster. However, temporary laws have limited effect. Consider instead allowing charitable deductions made by April 15, aka tax day, to be applied to the...
Split interest and partial interest gifts have been with us for over a century. Donors have had a long-standing interest in making gifts and reserving certain critical rights with respect to the property given. This paper discusses certain important aspects of the split interest and partial...
Gene Steuerle testifies before the Committee on Ways and Means on tax reform and charitable contributions. This testimony centers on the point that a tax subsidy like that for charitable contributions should be treated like any other program of government, examined regularly, and reformed to...
This fact sheet examines the effects of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) on charitable giving. The major individual income tax provisions are estimated to increase giving by $3.3 billion or 1.5 percent, relative to 2012 law, mainly because of the increase in the top marginal tax...
Abuse of tax deductions for charitable donations of conservation lands are on the rise
This brief discusses the abuse of tax deductions intended to encourage conservation of environmentally friendly land and historic buildings. This abuse is on the rise and a key policy question is whether this tax expenditure represents a good return on the scarce dollars the federal government...
The New Debate over a Charitable Deduction for Nonitemizers
The US tax system provides a deduction for charitable giving, but only for the 25 percent of taxpayers who itemize deductions on their tax returns. Accordingly, advocates for the charitable sector have at times proposed to extend a deduction to itemizers and nonitemizers alike. Today these...
Tax Policy and Volunteer Labor
Volunteers are extremely valuable to the charitable sector: Urban Institute researchers estimated the value of their labor at $163 billion in 2013. Though charitable contributions can be deducted from income taxes, volunteers cannot deduct the value of their labor. By economic consensus,...
Tax Policy and Philanthropy: A Primer on the Empirical Evidence for the U.S. and its Implications
Tax policies in the U.S. increase the incentive to donate to charity among those who itemize their deductions, and most of the tax revenue cost goes to subsidize donations made by relatively high-income people. Several types of empirical evidence which I review here suggest that the donation...
The Charitable Contributions Deduction: A Tax Debate or a Question of Charity Versus Government?
This paper attempts to better understand rhetoric over the charitable contributions deduction, arguing that debate surrounding the deduction is ultimately a projection of more fundamental debates relating to the theme of government versus charity. The phrase "government versus charity" can mean...
The Charitable Contribution Deduction: Section 170 Reorganized
This paper attempts first to clarify tax rules concerning charitable contributions by reorganizing section 170 and simplifying the language, where possible, so that the operative rules will be clearer. In addition, a revision of the estate and gift tax provisions, intended to increase uniformity...
Extending the Charitable Deduction Deadline to Tax Day
Extending the charitable deduction deadline is a move with precedent: the government has used it to encourage giving following a natural disaster. However, temporary laws have limited effect. Consider instead allowing charitable deductions made by April 15, aka tax day, to be applied to the...
The Charitable Contribution Deduction: Reform and Simplification
Split interest and partial interest gifts have been with us for over a century. Donors have had a long-standing interest in making gifts and reserving certain critical rights with respect to the property given. This paper discusses certain important aspects of the split interest and partial...
Tax Reform and Charitable Contributions
Gene Steuerle testifies before the Committee on Ways and Means on tax reform and charitable contributions. This testimony centers on the point that a tax subsidy like that for charitable contributions should be treated like any other program of government, examined regularly, and reformed to...
What Does the Fiscal Cliff Deal Mean for Nonprofits?
This fact sheet examines the effects of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) on charitable giving. The major individual income tax provisions are estimated to increase giving by $3.3 billion or 1.5 percent, relative to 2012 law, mainly because of the increase in the top marginal tax...