How can we issue donation receipts for our donors?
July 7, 2023 | 55,00 EUR | answered by Günther Schmidt
Dear tax advisor,
we are a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental protection. In the past, we have regularly received donations from companies and individuals, which we would like to confirm with donation receipts. Unfortunately, we have no experience with issuing donation receipts and are unsure of how to proceed.
Our concern is that we may not be complying with tax regulations correctly and could therefore encounter problems with the tax office. Additionally, we want to ensure that our donors can properly use the receipts for their tax returns.
Could you please explain to us how we can issue donation receipts for our donors? What information must be included on the receipts? Are there specific deadlines that we need to adhere to? And how can we ensure that our receipts meet the legal requirements?
We would greatly appreciate your assistance with this important issue and look forward to your helpful tips and advice.
Best regards,
Mia Kleine
Dear Mrs. Kleine,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the issuance of donation certificates for your nonprofit organization. It is understandable that you are unsure about how to proceed in order to comply with tax regulations correctly and ensure that your donors can use the certificates properly for their tax returns.
In order to issue donation certificates correctly, certain information must be included. This includes the name and address of the donor, the amount of the donation, the date of the donation, and a note stating that it is a donation and no consideration was provided in return. Additionally, the certificate must state the nonprofit purpose of the organization, as well as its tax identification number or exemption certificate.
There are also deadlines that you must adhere to when issuing donation certificates. Generally, these certificates should be issued promptly after receiving the donations, but no later than the end of the following calendar year. For a donation made in this year, the certificate should be issued no later than December 31st of the next year.
To ensure that your certificates comply with legal requirements, I recommend consulting a tax advisor specializing in nonprofit organization taxation. They can assist you in correctly issuing the certificates and including all necessary information.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available for any further questions. Thank you for your dedication to environmental protection and I wish you success in issuing donation certificates for your donors.
Best regards,
Günther Schmidt
