There is Still Time to Give to St. Helena If giving to charity is still on your agenda for 2018, there's still a window of time for you to make that year-end donation. Please note that new tax rules have made it more difficult to get a deduction for your donations. That is because the standard deduction is so much higher — about $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples who file jointly. And your donations (plus any other deductions such as mortgage interest, etc.) must push you over the standard deduction in order for you to itemize on your tax return. When giving to charity, make sure that the organization is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization. Both St. Helena School and Parish are such organizations. If you plan to send your donation via check in the mail, send it early enough so that it is postmarked on or before Dec. 31. Also, note that the mailbox rule only applies to U.S. mail and not to other delivery methods such as FedEx. If you choose to give physical assets, such as artwork, the delivery and transfer of the title or deed must happen before Dec. 31. If you choose to donate stock, that transaction is only recognized as completed once the transfer request has been submitted by your financial advisor or firm. Keep in mind that if you are over age 70½, you can make a donation directly from an individual retirement account to a charity. If your gift exceeds $250, you need to get a receipt. A canceled check or a brokerage certificate showing a transfer of shares won't count. Also note that charities aren't required by law to give you a receipt, so you have to ask them for one. Contact the parish office, and we will be glad to send you one. Furthermore, you must have that receipt in hand by the time you file your taxes in April. If you file for an extension, you will need to have documentation of your gift by the time you file in October. Also, It’s not too late to set up what's known as a donor-advised fund for your charitable gifts this year. The advantage of a donor-advised fund is you can get the deduction for making the gift this year, but decide later which charities to which you want to donate the money. Most major brokerage firms can set one up for you, but they typically have a minimum requirement.