Tax Considerations in Charitable Auctions

Have you ever attended a charity auction only to have the well-meaning auctioneer rally the audience by saying, "Come on everybody, it's deductible!" In this updated article, Ronnie C. McClure, Ph.D., CPA, suggests donors, bidders, and charitable organizations may be in for a surprise. Although auctions probably fall more under the category of "spontaneous" than "planned" giving, there are several interesting tax facts you might want know before the next gavel falls.