Tax season is here and charitable deductions and the vehicles that generate them continue to land on the IRS’s radar. For instance:

• The IRS is stringent about requiring a charitable deduction to be calculatable as a true “sum certain,” as the taxpayer in a recent tax court case found out the hard way.
• The IRS appears to be doubling down on exempt purpose requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations. Keep these rules in mind, especially as you counsel clients who are involved with starting a new charity.
• The IRS is taking a close look at sketchy charitable remainder trusts in conjunction with its Dirty Dozen focus areas. Knowing the IRS positions on tax structure allows you to  watch carefully for red flags and “too-good to be true” scenarios.

The Community Foundation is always tracking the latest news and trends with charitable giving and our team is happy to help you as you serve your charitable clients.