Tips on charitable donations and income tax deductions

As 2007 comes to a close, we ask that you remember ReUse Industries if you are planning on making year-end charitable contributions. Whether a donation of a reusable appliance or a cash gift, all donations to ReUse Industries are tax-deductible. Everyone wins!

Also, in that vein, we at ReUse Industries would like to thank all of our generous donors in 2007. Your donations make our mission at ReUse a reality, and our gratitude is without bounds. Thank you!

(Following article from MSN.com)

If you contribute to your church, your college, the local dog pound, United Way or organizations contributing to disaster relief, make these donations by Dec. 31. And make sure that before you file your tax return, you have a receipt from the organizations that benefited from your generosity.

If you don't have the cash, find out if the organization can process a donation via credit card. As long as the donation is made by Dec. 31, it's valid as a 2007 deduction.

Separately, any contributions of clothes or household goods must be in good condition or better to qualify for a deduction. If a single item has a value of $500 or more, you will need an appraisal. The Internal Revenue Service can deny deductions for items of minimal value.

Complicating any deductions will be new requirements on record keeping. This is important.

To deduct a cash donation, regardless of the amount, you must have a bank record or a written communication from the charity showing its name and the date and amount of the contribution. Acceptable bank records would include canceled checks or bank or credit union statements containing the name of the charity, the date and the amount of the contribution.

Also, from MSN Money, check out "Give and grow rich with charitable deductions".

Green holiday tips from around the web

• How to have a green Christmas (from Newsweek)
• A Green Christmas: Holiday Tips from the Sierra Club
• How to have a green Christmas (from Time Magazine)
• We're dreaming of a green Christmas (from the Independent)
• Mother Nature likes gifts, too (from the Rochester Post-Bulletin)

Remember, one of the best things you can do for the environment and for the local economy is to keep all of your holiday shopping local! There is no better place to put this into practice than ReUse Industries. Our Athens Thrift Store is located at 100 Columbus Road, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Our Wellston Thrift Store is located at 102 S. Ohio Ave in Wellston, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. We also have items for sale at our farm in Albany, which is located at 74815 US Highway 50, about 2 miles west of Albany. The farm is open from 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

Not quite sure what to get a certain someone? ReUse offers gift certificates in the denomination of your choice good at all three of our retail locations.