IRS urges citizens to seek qualified charities for Katrina relief

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Citizens seeking to make donations to help Hurricane Katrina victims should seek out qualified charities, according to the Internal Revenue Service. People who have a specific charity in mind can make sure that it is a qualified charity by searching an IRS-approved list at IRS.gov. Some organizations, such as churches and governments, may be qualified even though they are not listed. The IRS does not endorse any charity. However, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has urged citizens to make cash donations to volunteer agencies with whom it is working. The website FirstGov.gov also contains disaster-relief information. In addition, the IRS's Publication 3833, "Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance Through Charitable Organizations," may be helpful for people who either want to make contributions or form a specific charity. "We encourage citizens to make sure their contributions are put to the best use possible to help Hurricane Katrina victims," said IRS commissioner Mark W. Everson. "The IRS will do everything possible to assist both taxpayers and charities in this difficult time." The IRS also issued these following reminders to citizens and charities: • Publication 78 lists charities with tax-exempt status, available at IRS.gov. • Publication 526, "Charitable Contributions," provides information on making contributions to charities. • Taxpayers may claim a deduction for contributions to charitable organizations only if they itemize deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040. They should retain proof of the contribution and, if the amount is more than $250, must obtain an acknowledgement from the charity for the amount.