Charity Limits

You may deduct up to 50% of your total income for charitable contributions of money. For appreciated assets the amount is 30%, and for donations to private foundations, 20%.

Under certain conditions, if you have stock that has gone up in value, you may take a deduction for the full fair market value of the stock -- and avoid the tax on the capital gains.

If your donations are high, it would be prudent to include a list of the charities that have received $250 or more with the tax return. You can include your list on an attached schedule even if you're e-filing.