What Counts as a Cash Donation to Charity?
Money, however you send it

Your questions, answered

What counts as a cash donation?

Money. The IRS lists cash, checks, electronic funds transfers, online payment services, debit cards, credit cards, payroll deduction, and a gift card that can be redeemed for cash. How the money moves does not change what it is. A $100 card gift and a $100 check are the same cash gift.

Is a donation by credit card tax deductible?

Yes, the same as any other cash gift to a qualifying charity. It counts in the year you make the charge, even if you pay the card bill the next year. A gift charged on December 31, 2026 is a 2026 gift.

Do Venmo, PayPal or other payment apps count?

A payment through an online payment service counts as cash, as long as the money goes to the charity itself. Sending money to a person, even a person raising money for a good cause, is not a charitable gift. For a gift of $250 or more, the app's transaction record is not enough on its own; you still need the charity's written acknowledgment.

What does not count as cash?

Property. Clothing, furniture, cars, stock and other investments are noncash gifts, with their own valuation and record rules. The 2026 donation tax deduction guide covers them. Gifts to individuals, including personal crowdfunding campaigns, are not deductible at all.

What receipt do I need for a cash donation?

For every cash gift, whatever the size, keep one of two things: a bank record, such as a bank or credit card statement, a canceled check, or an electronic transfer receipt; or a written receipt from the charity, which can be an email. Either one has to show the charity's name, the date and the amount. Without one of them, the gift is not deductible.

How much can you donate without a receipt?

There is no amount you can deduct with no record at all. Below $250, a bank or card statement is enough and you do not need a letter from the charity. Cash dropped in a collection box with no record is not deductible.

What is the $250 receipt rule?

For any single gift of $250 or more, a bank record is not enough. You need a written acknowledgment from the charity that states the amount and whether you got anything in return, such as a dinner or event ticket. You must have it by the date you file your return, or the filing due date including extensions if that comes first.

Can I deduct cash gifts if I don't itemize?

Yes, starting with tax year 2026. You can deduct up to $1,000 of cash gifts to qualifying charities ($2,000 married filing jointly) on top of the standard deduction. Gifts to donor-advised funds and to supporting organizations do not count toward it. The details, with a quick calculator, are on our page about deducting donations without itemizing.

How much cash can I deduct if I itemize?

Cash gifts to public charities can be deducted up to 60% of your adjusted gross income. That limit was due to fall back to 50% after 2025; the 2025 tax law made 60% permanent.

What is the new 0.5% floor?

From tax year 2026, people who itemize can deduct only the part of their total charitable gifts above 0.5% of their adjusted gross income. With $100,000 of income, the first $500 of gifts for the year is not deductible. The floor does not apply to the $1,000 and $2,000 deduction for people who do not itemize.

How do I give cash to NYC Honor?

Online at our donate page by card, Apple Pay or bank transfer. You get an emailed receipt with our EIN, 42-1836369, and a statement that no goods or services were provided, which is the acknowledgment the $250 rule asks for. To send a check, make it payable to NYC Honor Foundation Inc. and mail it to 7720 82nd St, Glendale, NY 11385-7635. NYC Honor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity; you can confirm it on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.

Where these answers come from

• The law: Internal Revenue Code section 170(f)(17) (a record for every cash gift), 170(f)(8) (written acknowledgment at $250 or more), 170(b)(1)(G) (60% limit for cash), 170(b)(1)(I) (0.5% floor), and 170(p) (deduction without itemizing), as amended by Public Law 119-21 for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025. Treasury Regulation 1.170A-15 defines a monetary gift and a bank record. Revenue Ruling 78-38 covers credit card gifts.
• IRS: Publication 526, Charitable Contributions (current edition covers 2025 returns; we will check the 2026 edition when it is released); Topic No. 506, Charitable Contributions.
• Checked against: The Tax Adviser, March 2026 (60% limit, 0.5% floor, deduction without itemizing).