My church did an odd thing this year for the first time. They told people if they want their giving statements, we can get them off their website.
This didn't sound quite kosher to me. Isnt a 501C3 require to send statements to donors?
(I am also not keen on it from a data security standpoint).
My church is a very young church, and often makes errors more experienced organizations don't do. They probably did it to save postage, but I am not sure it is OK.
Thoughts?
I'm curious as to what actual accountants will say, but a number of tax forms I expect (credit unions, student loans, charity aggregator) are distributed via their organizations' websites.
In reply to Ransom:
I thought under a certain dollar amount was not required to be sent unless requested, but that all have to be sent if requested.
It's news to me that an organization can choose to not send them at all.
I think I can go to my bank website and pull a formal document of Interest Paid on Mortgage document at any time.
Ps. I am totally not an accountant type so maybe I should just stay out of this discussion.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
I understand.
My question is the difference between "making it available" and "sending it to me".
Honestly, I question the way in which online information has been used by this organization, and have refrained from establishing an account, or using their app.
Yeah, I know that opens a different can of worms which I'd rather not chase...
well, there are the 'self-reported' type forms that goodwill and salvation army, etc use when you donate. They give you the same form they give everyone else, you have to fill it out, and they sign it or something.
Maybe your church is making that form available on the web to download and fill out.
We give out printed statements and a letter from the treasurer stating it is a charity donation if you use checks and we can track it. Those that give online have to print off their own statements. At a minimum there should be a letter from the treasurer to prove it was given to a charity.
I wouldn't be surprised if the form you download is the completed statement same as they would hand you. I no longer get handed a paper W2 at work unless I specifically ask/beg for one. We are supposed to print ours off a website.
You guys are chasing rabbits.
Tell them you do not have internet access and request a hard copy be mailed to you or distributed after the church service.
trucke wrote: Tell them you do not have internet access and request a hard copy be mailed to you or distributed after the church service.
His point is not how to get the information. His point is, are they doing something against regulations by offering it internet-only as they have?
As long as they comply with the request for a paper statement, I believe this is ok.
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