Usually, Ogilvie says, you re better off with the 14-cent figure. Don t forget about items such as clothes or books you donate to the Salvation Army or a rummage sale. But if you give away a blouse, you calculate your deduction based on what it s worth used, not what you paid for it. Give by check whenever possible, so you have a record, but it s not required for small stuff. Ogilvie suggests keeping a notebook where you can jot down small cash contributions throughout the year.
Many churches provide quarterly or annual records of giving.
IRS Publication 526 explains all about charitable deductions. Article first appeared in Clarity magazine, a Guideposts publication. Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy . Constructed by Beliefnet.