Needs:
• Bleach
• Pine-sol
• Lysol
• Dish soap
• Liquid laundry soap
• Canned Cat & Kitten Food
• Dry Kitten Food
• 13 & 39 Gallon Trash Bags
• Dry dog food & dry cat food
• Dog & Cat Treats
• Bales of Hay/straw
• Dog Collars & Leashes
• Paper towels
• Cat and dog toys
• Pine shavings
• Blankets
• Towels and washcloths

THE TAX BENEFITS OF DONATING TO CHARITY It is never too early to start your tax planning! With 2011 in the books, it’s time for some start-of-year tax planning. Did you know that the SPCA Serving Allegany County is a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt charity which can help you save money on your taxes? Donations made to the SPCA are tax deductible and a great way to help the residents and animals of our county. Indeed, there are several advantages to giving to charity including, creating good will, the feeling you get knowing you have made a difference in your community and the personal tax benefits knowing that Uncle Sam is getting just a little bit less from your pocket. Although our “friends” at the IRS keep a watchful eye on charitable deductions, if you donate to an IRS approved tax-exempt entity, like ours, and keep track of your paperwork, it makes the tax season much easier for you and your tax preparation professional. Also, our charity is very useful in estate planning as well. Here are just a few tidbits about giving to our charity, however, this is not tax advice so please be sure to consult your own tax adviser about your specific tax situation. When can I take a deduction? The donation to our charity is deductible in the year it is made. You must make sure that the donation is made prior to December 31, 2012 to take advantage of the tax break on your 2012 taxes. Will my donation stay in Allegany County? EVERY PENNY! All of the donations to the SPCA Serving Allegany County remain here. Although we are the only SPCA in Allegany County, we are not affiliated with the county government at all. We receive no governmental stipends or financial support in any manner from the county tax payers and your donations are greatly appreciated as we are totally privately funded by people just like you. How much can I donate? Typically, as much as you want! However, please consult your tax professional as certain types of donations can have other implications on your taxes. That being said, there are usually no limits on monetary charitable donations for most tax payers. Can I take a deduction for volunteering at the SPCA Serving Allegany County? Unfortunately, no, you cannot deduct the value of your time spent on charitable work. However, you can deduct your out-of-pocket costs associated with volunteering such as mileage at the applicable IRS rate. So, please consider volunteering with the SPCA Serving Allegany County as you can usually deduct your travel and other related expenses if you do. What documentation must I keep if I donate to the SPCA Serving Allegany County? For monetary donations above $250.00, you must keep a written confirmation from the SPCA Serving Allegany County that has our name, the date and the amount you gave on it. We are only required to provide these for donations over $250.00 and we do just that. If you are giving less than $250.00, generally a cancelled check, credit card receipt/statement or bank record is sufficient to satisfy the IRS. As with all tax scenarios, more documentation is better so be sure to keep accurate records. We at the SPCA Serving Allegany County want to thank each of you for all of your support and ask that you please consider volunteering or donating to the SPCA Serving Allegany County, instead of Uncle Sam, and please be sure to consult your own tax adviser about your specific tax situation as this article is not intended to be tax advice, only food for thought.