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 $125 and had a fair market value of $25. 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 $11,050 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.

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. Presuming that Roberta is a cash basis and calendar year taxpayer, how much can she deduct as a charitable contribution for 2020?

• Roberta can deduct ($125 x 4) - ($25 x 4) = $500 - $100 = $500. She cannot deduct the check because it was not mailed before December 31.

b. Would the amount of the deduction be any different if Roberta was an accrual basis taxpayer? Explain.

• As an accrual taxpayer, she could deduct $500 + $11,050 = $11,550. She had already written the check and the fact that it was mailed on January 3 doesn't make a difference for an accrual taxpayer.