I’ve received quite a few inquiries asking about making a donation to Haiti earthquake relief via an online gambling website. Here’s the latest:
An online poker site is saying that if I transfer funds to a specific account, they’ll use the money for earthquake relief in Haiti. Would such contributions be tax deductible?
The answer is no: Contributions made through an online poker website are not tax deductible.
In order for a contribution to be tax deductible, you need proof of the donation: A canceled check or a credit/debit card receipt (or a charge listed on your credit card statement). Congress just last week authorized “texting” contributions that are delineated on your cellular phone bill as allowable charitable contributions for Haitian earthquake relief. But a contribution via an online gambling website does not meet that standard.
You do not obtain a receipt. Yes, you may show a record of the transfer to the specific Haiti Earthquake Relief Account, but in the eyes of the IRS (and Congress, which wrote the law) that’s not good enough.
I don’t mean to discourage such charitable contributions; earthquake relief in Haiti is a good cause. However, if you make a contribution via an online gambling website don’t expect to be able to deduct the contribution as a charitable donation on your tax return.
President Obama signed the legislation that allows you to take allowable charitable contributions for earthquake relief in Haiti on either your 2009 or 2010 tax returns. Remember, you can’t take them twice. Also, it’s likely that most states will not conform with this legislation.