Question

On December 27, 2020, Roberta purchased four tickets to a charity ball sponsored by the city of San Diego for the benefit of underprivileged children. Each ticket cost $275 and had a fair market value of $55. On the same day as the purchase, Roberta gave the tickets to the minister of her church for personal use by his family. At the time of the gift of the tickets, Roberta pledged $8,050 to the building fund of her church. The pledge was satisfied by a check dated December 31, 2020, but not mailed until January 3, 2021.

Required:
a. Presuming Roberta is a cash basis and calendar year taxpayer, she can deduct $_______ for the tickets and for the pledge as a charitable contribution for 2018.
b. Would the amount of the deduction be any different if Roberta were an accrual basis taxpayer?

Answer 1

A. $880 for ticket, $0 for pledge

B. No difference

Step-by-step explanation:

To get what she can deduct for ticket

Cost of ticket = $275

Fair Market value = $55

Number of ticket purchased = 4

(275 - 55) x 4

= 4 x 220

= $880

The deductible amount for ticket = $880

A. So if she is a tax basis and yearly tax payer what she can deduct is $880 and the pledge would be $0

B. There would be no difference because deductibles are only done on payments made