February
22, 1999
by Ed Henderson
Scouting
And Your Taxes
It's
possible that you may be able to support Scouting and reduce your tax obligation at the
same time. SCOUTER.com
encourages everyone involved in Scouting to strongly consider ways they can support and
build the program not only with their time, but also with financial resources. The
resources on the Taxes & Scouting page of links present some of the ways a donor can
support Scouting while reducing their tax obligation. Other links offer ways a Scouter can
make a significant donation to Scouting in their estate planning. Legislation has been
passed in Congress and in state houses to make charitable contributions beneficial for the
donor as well. Below we offer links on these strategies and opportunities.
Depending on a volunteer's situation there may be unique tax opportunities for special
circumstances. If, for example, a staff member if hired to work at Summer Camp and that
employment requires a uniform be worn each day a second or third uniform then can become a
tax-deductible purchase in many instances.
Please keep in mind that the
information presented on the web sites links on the Taxes
& Scouting Compass Point is
the opinion of the author of that specific site,and does not necessarily represent the
views of SCOUTER.com or SCOUTER Magazine.
Exercise Caution And Carefully Consider All Of The Options
As with all investment advice, readers
should exercise caution and carefully consider all of the options as well as consulting
with their personal tax & investment advisors before making any significant donation.
Because laws are always changing it is important to make sure that the viewpoints and
options presented below are applicable to your situation, tax bracket, and geographic
location.
Always Check With Your Local Scout Council
Finally, even though we say it all over
our web site and in our Magazine, we shall repeat it here: SCOUTER.com, SCOUTER Magazine,
and the 1-800-SCOUTER Catalog have no formal association with or endorsement by the Boy
Scouts of America Inc. For official BSA policy or positions check with your local Scout
Council or on official BSA web sites.
This week's author: Ed Henderson is
Associate Editor of SCOUTER Magazine, Director of the 1-800-SCOUTER Catalog, and an Eagle
Scout.
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