That time of year again... "would you like to add a $1 for xyz?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out about this being a scam! Is this common knowledge?

Why would you call it a scam? It’s annoying, bug there’s nothing fraudulent or otherwise untoward going on.

[Anonymous]

I don't do it either. When I donate, I want the write off. I can imagine this is a great way for a corporation to get credit for 'donating to charity' and getting a tax break. Spare me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out about this being a scam! Is this common knowledge?

Why would you call it a scam? It’s annoying, bug there’s nothing fraudulent or otherwise untoward going on.

99% of people don't realize the company is getting a tax write off for the customer's donation. That is untoward at the very least, and borderline fraudulent. They don't say "would you like to contribute to *our* donation to Make-a-Wish" (or whatever), they craft the ask to imply the money goes directly from the customer to the charity.

[Anonymous]

The cashier at my local Safeway actually tried to shame me into donating the other day. That was a first for me. "No? Every little bit helps, even if it's just a dollar or less".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cashier at my local Safeway actually tried to shame me into donating the other day. That was a first for me. "No? Every little bit helps, even if it's just a dollar or less".

Usually I am very polite with a "No thank you" but if my clerk tried this I may respond with a long diatribe about how many charity dollars don't actually reach the intended recipients.

[Anonymous]

No, the companies that collect the top up DO NOT get to take a tax deduction. (But I agree it's annoying and just say no; I donate a lot, but to organizations of my choice.)

https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/who-gets-tax-benefit-those-checkout-donations-0


What happens to the money you donate at the cash register?

This is where you round up your bill to give to a charity designated by the retailer, and the donation amount appears on your receipt. The store serves only as a collection agent for your gift. Assuming the business is following the law, it will not include your donation as part of its business receipts, or income, nor will it claim the charitable gift as an expense.

In other words, your gift has zero impact on the store’s income taxes. Keep in mind that the store chooses the receiving charity, so make sure it is one you can support. As a customer, the donation will appear on your receipt and you can claim it as a charitable deduction when you file your income tax return. But you probably won’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem saying no thank you. It’s annoying.

I have been going with "Certainly NOT! Your company can do the charity and not ask customers to do it for them"

Wow, the sanctimony is truly disgusting.

I'll bet you feel giddy walking out of there after demeaning a worker making minimum wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't do it either. When I donate, I want the write off. I can imagine this is a great way for a corporation to get credit for 'donating to charity' and getting a tax break. Spare me.

Duh, you still get to write the donation off.
When you donate, your donation is listed on the bottom of your receipt and you claim it by including it as a charitable deduction when you file your income tax return.

But go off on something you're clearly ignorant about.

[Anonymous]

Since I don’t go into stores, this isn’t an issue. I have no problem ignoring it online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out about this being a scam! Is this common knowledge?

Why would you call it a scam? It’s annoying, bug there’s nothing fraudulent or otherwise untoward going on.

it is a scam b/c when say- kroger files their taxes, they take all of the money their customers gave to charity and claim that as charitable giving that they paid out of their profits.

fake number: they made $100 profit, raised $10 in charitable giving, claim on their taxes that they made $90 profit. This is legal but it is also a scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no issue saying no thank you to this. I think it's horrible for stores to force their cashiers to say this.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

I went to Staples a couple of days ago, and they asked: "How much would you like to donate to XYZ?"

HOW MUCH??? YOU ALREADY ASSUMED I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE TAX WRITE OFF?

I'm always polite to the cashier, but this crap has gotten out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem saying no thank you. It’s annoying.

I have been going with "Certainly NOT! Your company can do the charity and not ask customers to do it for them"

See, I agree with you, but c’mon...the 19 year old making $12/hour at the cash register has absolutely NO say this donation thing. They have to ask and would probably have some sort of consequence if the boss noticed they weren’t asking. (Heck, even the store manager might not even have a say in it. These directives usually come from corporate, right?). Don’t be rude to and take your frustrations out on the person who’s just trying to keep their job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out about this being a scam! Is this common knowledge?

Why would you call it a scam? It’s annoying, bug there’s nothing fraudulent or otherwise untoward going on.

it is a scam b/c when say- kroger files their taxes, they take all of the money their customers gave to charity and claim that as charitable giving that they paid out of their profits.

fake number: they made $100 profit, raised $10 in charitable giving, claim on their taxes that they made $90 profit. This is legal but it is also a scam.

No they don’t. More made up bullsh*t by so-called experts on DCUM. A prior poster already explained the accounting treatment for these transactions. Stop spreading misinformation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, the companies that collect the top up DO NOT get to take a tax deduction. (But I agree it's annoying and just say no; I donate a lot, but to organizations of my choice.)

https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/who-gets-tax-benefit-those-checkout-donations-0


What happens to the money you donate at the cash register?

This is where you round up your bill to give to a charity designated by the retailer, and the donation amount appears on your receipt. The store serves only as a collection agent for your gift. Assuming the business is following the law, it will not include your donation as part of its business receipts, or income, nor will it claim the charitable gift as an expense.

In other words, your gift has zero impact on the store’s income taxes. Keep in mind that the store chooses the receiving charity, so make sure it is one you can support. As a customer, the donation will appear on your receipt and you can claim it as a charitable deduction when you file your income tax return. But you probably won’t.

Thanks for posting this!