Are Political Contributions Tax Deductible? What You Can and Can’t Write Off
Tax time may have some people asking, “Are political contributions tax deductible?”
Political contributions are not tax deductible under any circumstance. That means you can’t write off any donations you make to campaigns, party committees or political action committees (PACs). You can’t even write off your expenses as a volunteer for a campaign.
That said, being involved in the political process, whether as a donor or a volunteer, is a great way to extend your civic duty and support causes and candidates you believe in. Don’t let the lack of a tax write-off discourage you from using your time or money to make a difference.
But if your aim is to save money on taxes or get a bigger refund, you’ll need to find other ways to lower your taxable income.
Are Political Contributions Ever Tax Deductible?
Unfortunately, political contributions are not tax deductible in any way, shape or form. The IRS is very clear about this. IRS Publication 529 has a list of expenses that are nondeductible, no questions asked.
IRS Publication 529 further spells it out like this:
“You can’t deduct contributions made to a political candidate, a campaign committee, or a newsletter fund. Advertisements in convention bulletins and admissions to dinners and programs that benefit a political party or political candidate aren’t deductible.”
The IRS also bars you from deducting campaign expenses (like if you’re running for local office) and, of course, illegal bribes and kickbacks. Though if you planned to list an illegal bribe on your tax return, you may need a new accountant.
It’s important to note that, while the IRS applies to federal taxes, you cannot deduct political contributions on your state and local taxes either.
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Political Donations vs. Charitable Contributions
There may be no political donation tax deduction available, but you can absolutely deduct donations to qualified 501(c)(3) charities — commonly referred to as charitable organizations in tax code.
Charitable Organization Examples
Giving to a charitable organization is a great way to support a cause you believe in and lower your taxable income through tax deductions. But not every organization truly qualifies as a 501(c)(3). Before donating to an organization, use the IRS Tax Exemption Organization Search to see if the donation will be eligible for dedication.
Common organizations that qualify include:
- Qualifying nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity, United Way, the American Red Cross and Humane World for Animals
- Religious organizations, churches, mosques, temples and synagogues
- Qualifying nonprofit hospitals and schools
For instance, donations to Habitat for Humanity to help build homes and donations to the Humane World for Animals to fight animal cruelty are tax deductible. But a donation to a senate or city council candidate who says they’ll fight to house the poor and protect vulnerable animals cannot be deducted.
Note: Not every charitable organization is considered 501(c)(3). Some groups that lobby for changes to our laws, for instance, are not labeled 501(c)(3) and thus do not count toward tax deductions. Common examples include:
- Concerned Veterans for America
- American Civil Liberties Union
- National Rifle Association
- National Organization for Women
The big takeaway: If you want to more directly impact politics through donations, you probably can’t write it off, even if you support a charitable lobbying group rather than a candidate or campaign directly.
What Kinds of Political Spending Are Not Deductible?
IRS Publication 529 makes very clear that no form of political spending is tax deductible, but if you’re on the fence about a typical type of donation you’ve made, here’s a closer look at what the IRS explicitly states is not deductible:
- Contributions to a political candidate, campaign committee or newsletter fund
- Advertisement in convention bulletins
- Admissions to dinner and programs benefiting a political party or candidate
That means donating to a campaign, buying campaign merch, and giving money to a political action committee (PAC) or party committee are all off the table.
Even expenses you incur as a volunteer for a political campaign or party, such as transportation or equipment costs, are not tax deductible.
Can You Claim Political Donations in Any Circumstances?
You cannot claim political donations on your taxes in any circumstances. That means you can’t claim:
- Political donations made through a business.
- Donations to charitable organizations that primarily lobby for government change.
- Volunteer expenses for time spent helping a political campaign.
- In-kind political donations of goods or services.
How Political Giving Affects Your Taxes (Even If It’s Not Deductible)
Political giving does not affect your taxes. Nowhere on your tax return should you even bring up volunteer expenses, donations, admission to political fundraisers or any other kind of contribution. If you are itemizing deductions on Schedule A, leave off all political contributions.
While donating to political causes won’t hurt you when you file (you obviously won’t pay more), there’s never a scenario where you’ll pay less in taxes. Ultimately, Uncle Sam doesn’t need to know what campaigns you donated to or how much, when it comes to filing your taxes.
Note: Uncle Sam does care in other ways, however. Individual donors, as well as candidate committees, PACs and party committees, cannot exceed contribution limits for elections.
How to Support Causes and Get a Tax Break
If you are passionate about making a difference and believe a politician or party will champion your cause, you should still absolutely donate. However, if you want to support a cause and get a tax break, you’ll need a different strategy.
The best way? Give to a qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations to these charities are tax deductible, and such organizations can make a huge difference in the world. Such charities commonly support:
- Hospitals and medical research
- Schools and education
- People with disabilities
- People experiencing homelessness
- Veterans
- Animals and the environment
- Human rights
- Disaster relief
- Hunger and poverty
- Arts and culture
If these causes align with your goals, consider donating. Just make sure you review these three things before donating to charity.
Final Thoughts: Support Candidates — But Don’t Expect a Tax Write-Off
The biggest takeaway: There are no tax write-offs for political contributions, plain and simple. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t support political campaigns and candidates you believe in. Support them however you want, if you think it will make a positive difference.
Just don’t write those contributions off on your taxes. Instead, use charitable giving to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations as a strategy to make a difference in your community and lower your taxable income.
If you’re not sure what does and does not constitute a tax deduction or tax credit, hire an accountant to file your taxes — just to be safe.
