Are Go Fund Me Contributions Tax-Deductible? The Answer May Surprise You
Since we just went through another rigorous tax season, your head might be spinning with thoughts of tax deductions. There are many deserving charities that you can donate to and take the contributions as a deduction.
GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that often donates the money raised to people in need. If you donated to GoFundMe at any point during the last year, whether it was to a person in need or to support a charity, you’re probably wondering if it's tax deductible.
Now the answer to the question we have all been looking for - are donations to GoFundMe tax deductible?
The answer is sometimes. Not all donations made through GoFundMe are guaranteed to be tax-deductible. Let’s take a closer look:
Many donations made to GoFundMe fundraisers are considered “personal gifts” rather than a donation. Because of this technicality, you won’t be able to receive a tax receipt from GoFundMe for this donation. The only exception to this is if you make a donation to a GoFundMe for a charity fundraiser, meaning it's a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, the company says it's generally tax-deductible in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
Here's how to tell the difference between charitable donations and personal fundraisers on GoFundMe.
All GoFundMe campaigns will list the organizer(s) of the fundraiser and the reason for launching the initiative. Any fundraisers done on behalf of a charity or 501(c)(3) will have the charity’s name listed next to the name of the GoFundMe organizer. To make sure your donation is tax deductible, you can visit at you are donating to a charitable organization. To claim your deduction, you should receive a tax receipt from GoFundMe that can then be used to file..
How to deduct GoFundMe donations on your 2023 taxes:
First things first, you’ll need to itemize your deductions. You will be using the receipts you received from GoFundMe after donating for this step.
Next, to deduct GoFundMe donations on taxes, you’ll need to file Schedule A, Form 1040, Itemized Deductions. The IRS does give you the option to either itemize your deductions or take the standard deduction.
If you choose to take the standard deduction, which is $12,950 for single filers and $25,900 for married filing jointly, you won’t be able to deduct the charitable donation you made. While you should always keep written proof of your donations, TurboTax says it's especially important for you to have this (from the charity) if you made a cash contribution of $250 or more.
You should always keep written proof and any receipts you receive from your donations. Your receipt should also include the date the donation was made along with the amount.
Charitable donation deductions in 2023
Your total deductions are limited each year. The IRS limits your total deductions for charitable contributions to 60 percent of adjusted gross income for the year. However, 20 percent and 30 percent thresholds may come into play depending on the circumstances surrounding the donation.
Your trusted advisors at SBDP are here to help if you have questions about deducting qualified charitable donations.