charitable deduction

We're only two weeks into December and I've already been approached by more than a dozen charities asking for donations. In a tough economy, those organizations have gotten pretty creative. I'm rarely asked to make a gift of straight cash -- or cash equivalent, such as checks or credit cards....

At tax time, there is plenty of advice out there about how to maximize income tax deductions. With so much publicity focusing on what you can properly deduct, it's easy to think that almost anything you spend money on during the year can be a potential tax deduction. Not so fast. That type of...

If you keep good records, deductions can be a great way to reduce your taxable income. Increasing your allowable deductions means the less tax you owe and the more money you get to keep. To maximize your deductions, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with tax rules -- there are likely many...