Keep Your Credit Card Receipts

• It is always a good idea to keep a copy of your credit card receipts, but it is even more important to keep credit card statements that detail your charitable giving. When you make a charitable donation online using your credit card, when your next statement comes, copy it and put it in your tax file. You can make this process easier by signing up for online credit card statements. When you sign up for electronic statements, you can simply log on to your account and search for the name of the charity. The credit card search engine will provide you with the date and amount of your contribution, and you can simply print off the relevant parts of the statements and add them to your tax file.
  
  

Save Your Emails

• Many charities will send you an email thanking you for your contribution, and these emails can provide valuable documentation if the IRS questions the amount of your contribution. When you receive your email thanking you for the donation, be sure to print a copy and place it in a safe place so it will be available when tax time rolls around. You can also create a special folder for charitable contributions, investment statements and other tax documentation. This will give you a single place to go when you need to document your tax information.
  
  

Make Sure Your Charity is Registered with the IRS

• Before giving money to any charity, whether online or via a paper check, it is important to make sure the charity is recognized by the IRS. Claiming a deduction for a charity that is not recognized by the IRS could cause that deduction to be disallowed, resulting in higher taxes, as well as interest and penalties. Always check the IRS website to verify the status of any charity before you donate money or merchandise.