Re: [APML] OT: Payment for images; was: Fw: images from science

["Joseph O'Neil" <joneil@multiboard.com>]

>2. the charity has to be certified by the IRS as fitting into one of several
>categories and the artist taking the deduction would have to present
>evidence that the charity has that certification.

-snip-

         Our local astronomy club is a full fledged, registered charity 
here in Canada (long story that one), and while there are considerable tax 
differences between the two countries on several matters, we have 
encountered situations like this before.

         While avoiding specifics, here are a few general rules we have run 
into:

         1) value of donation - it can exceed the cost of materials if you 
can prove it's value.  For example, if you the photographer runs off say 
100 limited edition prints, and sells 90 of them at $1,000 each, then you 
have established market value and can issue a tax donation for the $1,000 
value.

         2) compatability - our club last year issed a tax reciept for 
equivalent value on a donation of a beautiful Byers mount.  now since we 
are an astronomical organization, the Byers mount is "compatable" with out 
goals and aims.  However if somebody for sake of argument wanted to donate 
a set of automtive mechanic tools, that we might have a hard time justifing 
as something that would be needed or useful to our organization.

         I find sine Sept 11th, on both sides of the boarder, there is a 
real crackdown on charties, to make sure they are not a front for some 
other uses, so you have to be careful.  It can be done, but keep everything 
above board in plain sight.
joe





http://www.oneilphoto.on.ca
http://www.multiboard.com/~joneil
"Una salus victus nullam sperare salutem"


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