ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Charitable contribution deductions in the United States

When you give your old toys or clothes to a kids' shelter or a donation box, it means you are giving away something for free to help other kids who need it. This is called charity.

Now, imagine you are a grown-up and you give away your money or things to help other people, animals or the environment. This is also called a charitable contribution.

In the United States, if you give away your money, things or property to a qualified charity, you can take a tax deduction. A tax deduction means that you can lower the amount of tax you pay to the government.

Let's say you earned $50,000 last year, and you donated $1,000 to a qualified charity. Without any deductions, you would owe taxes on the entire $50,000. However, since you made a charitable contribution, you can take a deduction for that $1,000, which means you'd only have to pay taxes on $49,000.

It's important to note that not all charities qualify for tax-deductible contributions. For example, if you give $20 to a friend to help them pay their rent, that's not a charitable contribution.

Additionally, there are some limits to how much you can deduct. Usually, you can deduct up to 60% of your income, but there are some exceptions depending on the type of charity you donate to, and the type of property or asset you donate.

To ensure you're taking full advantage of charitable contribution deductions, it's best to consult a tax professional or accountant to help you understand the rules and regulations surrounding them.