Donate The Tickets

“We pledge…to turn your tickets into hope
and opportunities for others. Can't
make the event…? Then let us help
you make a difference! The only
thing worse than an empty
seat, is a wasted ticket.
Donate the tickets
today!”

Tax Information

When I make a charitable contribution through Donate the Tickets, is that contribution tax-deductible?

Absolutely! Simply designate a non-profit organization that qualifies for 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the IRS — and that means every donation you make counts as a tax-deductible donation. It's one of the ways that Donate the Tickets makes giving easier and smarter for you. When you make a donation through our site, be sure to save and/or print the confirmation e-mail you receive for your tax records.

I want my giving to be deductible for this tax year. Do I need to make a donation by a certain time?

Yes. Any donation completed on or by December 31, will qualify as a deduction for this year. Any donations completed after December 31 (even at 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Day) go towards the next tax year. So if you're looking for a tax benefit for this year, you'll want to make that donation before it ends. The good news is that you can donate through Donate the Tickets any day of the week, 24 hours a day. So it's easy to make that last-minute donation.

Do I need to itemize my tax return to get a deduction for charitable giving?

Yes, you do. Donations are only tax-deductible if you itemize deductions on your tax return. When you file your taxes, you'll need to itemize your donations on Schedule A of the 1040 form.

Donate the Tickets can help you keep track of your individual donations throughout the year by providing a printed record each time that you use the site.

Is it worth the time and effort to itemize just to get a deduction for charitable giving?

The answer to that varies from person to person and is subject to phase-outs at higher income levels. Your charitable donations in the form of tickets, cash and volunteer mileage may help to lower your tax bill. As with any major tax decision, confer with your own tax or financial advisor so you're sure you get the most out of all your deductions.

How much can I legally deduct on my taxes for charitable contributions?

You can only deduct the amount of a contribution given voluntarily, with no expectation to receive goods or services in return. Generally speaking, you may deduct up to 50% of your aggregate gross income — half of your total income, subject to income phase-outs. There are some specific types of donations (such as gifts of stock, or donations to certain types of organizations) that have lower percentage ceilings.

Additionally, if you receive a financial or economic benefit in return for making a gift, the payment is not a deductible charitable contribution except to the extent that the value of the gift exceeds the fair market value of the benefit. For example, if you gave $100 to a museum and received a book in return that sells regularly for $25, you can claim $75 as a charitable deduction.

The IRS has a worksheet to help you determine how many of your donations are tax-deductible.

I want to donate as many tickets as I can this year. How can I do that, taking my own needs and expenses into consideration?

This would be a wonderful time to sit down with your own tax or financial advisor — he or she can help you decide how much you can give this year. There are also a number of online tools that can provide you with a rough estimate for giving.

I've heard that some donations aren't fully tax-deductible, even if they're to an IRS-recognized charity. Is that true?

Some contributions can be tax-deductible for less than the donated amount if the non-profit organization provides you with something of substantive value in return. At Donate the Tickets, we streamline the giving process so that 100% of your net donation is tax-deductible — no worries about what's deductible and what's not.

When I donate, will I get a receipt?

When you donate tickets through Donate the Tickets, you will always receive a confirmation e-mail, which will serve as your receipt. You also can print the ticket submission page that appears on your computer screen after you've registered your contribution — that can also serve as a receipt. You should always keep a hard copy of your receipt for your tax records. A canceled check or credit card receipt is no longer allowed for any donation greater than $250. It is a good policy to obtain a receipt for any donation you make and most non-profit organizations, like Donate the Tickets, will issue one automatically.