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Charitable Contributions Paper

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The purpose of this paper is to determine how certain types of business entities will report their charitable contributions. The four types that will be discussed are sole proprietorship, 100 % corporate shareholder, partner in partnership, and 100 % S corporation. The first one to discuss is the sole proprietorship
Sole Proprietorship Sole proprietorships are tough to handle on how to account for charitable contributions. If you're a sole proprietor and want a tax write-off for giving to charity, you must take it as a person, not a business. Instead of deducting it on Schedule C as a business expense, sole proprietors have to take an itemized deduction on Schedule A. If you don't itemize your deductions, you don't get a write-off, no matter …show more content…

The contribution is deductible if made to, or for the use of, a qualified organization. You cannot take a deduction if any of the net earnings of an organization receiving contributions benefit any private shareholder or individual. Publication 542 (03/2012), Corporations. (n.d.).
Cash method corporation. A corporation using the cash method of accounting deducts contributions in the tax year paid. Publication 542 (03/2012), Corporations. (n.d.).

Accrual method corporation. A corporation using an accrual method of accounting can choose to deduct unpaid contributions for the tax year the board of directors authorizes them if it pays them by the 15th day of the 3rd month after the close of that tax year. Make the choice by reporting the contribution on the corporation's return for the tax year. A declaration stating that the board of directors adopted the resolution during the tax year must accompany the return. The declaration must include the date the resolution was adopted.
Limitations on deduction. A corporation cannot deduct charitable contributions that exceed 10% of its taxable income for the tax year. Figure taxable income for this purpose without the following. Publication 542 (03/2012), Corporations. (n.d.).
1. The deduction for charitable contributions. Publication 542 (03/2012), Corporations. …show more content…

The following article will describe hoe s corporations should handle charitable contributions. Self-employed individuals and small businesses that want the limited liability protections of a corporation but the simplicity of individual tax preparation might choose to register as an S corporation. Income from the corporation passes through to shareholders, who pay the tax bill. The corporation must file Form 1120S to report its income and expenses. It also must distribute Schedule K-1 to shareholders so that they can include their portions of the income and deductions on their personal returns. (S Corporation Charitable Deduction Limitation.

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