
GoFundMe and most other crowdfunding sites usually send 1099-Ks if the campaign raised more than $20,000 and had more than 200 donors.
Setting up gofundme pro#
Does that quid pro quo make her crowdfunding receipts taxable? Arguably, it does. Blasey Ford sends personal letters to donors that are suitable for framing. The letter implies that any crowdfunding quid pro quo defeats the entire gift. That donor could still claim a $60 charitable contribution deduction.īut the language in 2016-0036 is different. The Service’s example is a $100 donation and a $40 concert ticket as a thank-you gift. Typically, if a gift includes a quid pro quo, only the gift portion is tax-deductible. Note that this rule is different from the general quid pro quo charitable contribution rule. Then, there’s the quid pro quo prohibition. Does that mixed motive defeat the gift exemption? The IRS would almost certainly say that is the case. Blasey Ford and partially out of animosity towards the other side in this controversy. Most likely, people gave money partially out of generosity for Dr. According to the online funding campaigns, she had received “death threats” and “her family have had to leave their residence and arrange for private security.” Christine Blasey Ford’s security expenses. In the wake of her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, several crowdfunding campaigns raised over $700,000 for Justice Brett Kavanaugh accuser Dr. GoFundMe campaigns with political overtones are a good example.

The “detached generosity” prong is a bit uncertain. So, this part of 2016-0036 deserves more scrutiny. If GoFundMe receipts are tax-exempt, they will almost certainly fall under the third bullet. GoFundMe’s site includes a disclaimer that “most donations on GoFundMe are simply considered to be ‘personal gifts’ which are not taxed as income in the U.S.” But that declaration is hardly authoritative, and it is certainly not binding on the IRS.
Setting up gofundme drivers#
Uber drivers are not really independent contractors but they are not really employees either, and the list goes on. This issue is certainly not unique to GoFundMe receipts.

There is normally no relationship between the donor and the donee. But tax planners still have something to go on.Ĭrowdfunding transfers do not fit neatly into the gift or non-gift categories. But that’s not a bright line, since donors can contribute money to GoFundMe and other campaigns for any purpose whatsoever.Ĭongress has made no laws on the subject, and the Internal Revenue Service has passed no Federal Register rules on this topic.

Some might consider these transfers gifts, largely because the donor receives nothing in return. The financial value of that quid pro quo is subjective, at best.Ĭrowdfunding contributions have muddied the waters even further. For example, assume you give money to a children’s choir which then performs at your wedding. Aside from contribution-only donations to established 501(c)(3) charities, the gift/non-gift distinction has always been rather subjective.
