Can i deduct campaign contributions

But can campaign donors write off any of these contributions on their federal income taxes? Advertisements in convention bulletins and admissions to dinners or programs that benefit a political party or political candidate are not deductible," it says in IRS Publication You also can't deduct any of the portions of dues from a trade organization, Chamber of Commerce, or union that go to lobbying or political activities— with certain exceptions. The answer is no — donations to political candidates are not tax deductible on your personal or business tax return.

The same goes for campaign contributions. We hear this question from time to time. The confusion usually arises over the difference between political contributions and charitable contributions.

This type of organization is specifically barred from attempting to influence legislation, or participating in any political campaign. Get started today to get your maximum refund. July 7, January 21, January 8, Tax Law Changes. January 5, Know what dependents credits and deductions you can claim Get started.

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Skip To Main Content. Are Political Contributions Tax Deductible? If you have made contributions, donations, or payments for any of these, that amount can't be deducted from your taxes : A political candidate A political party A campaign committee A newsletter fund Advertisements in convention bulletins Admission to dinners or programs that benefit a political party or political candidate Political Action Committees PACs Are political contributions tax-deductible for my business?

But I thought donations were tax-deductible? Typically, you'll list any charitable donation deductions on Form , Schedule A. Common examples of charitable donation deductions include money or property given to: Churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, or other qualified religious organizations Federal, state, or local governments, if your contribution is solely for a public purpose and does not seek to influence legislation Qualified nonprofit schools and hospitals Qualified nonprofit organizations, such as the American Red Cross, United Way, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, etc.

Common examples of what can't be included in charitable donation deductions include money or property given to: Groups whose purpose is to lobby for law changes Political groups or candidates for public office Civic leagues, social and sports clubs, chambers of commerce, and labor unions Groups that are run for personal profit Country clubs, lodges, fraternal orders, homeowners' associations, or similar groups What if I volunteer for a political campaign?

Can I deduct my expenses? An important note here is that you can't deduct the value of the time you've spent volunteering for a charitable organization. You also can't deduct the value of any services you may have provided to a charitable organization.

In other words, you can't deduct an "hourly rate" for your volunteering, but you can typically deduct unreimbursed mileage or other travel expenses incurred while volunteering for a qualified charitable organization.