Stop donating your cash. Write a check instead.

New IRS tax rules for 2007, which took effect Jan. 1, forbid tax deductions for charitable donations unless you can prove the donation through receipts or other official financial records.

However, don’t let that scare you away from donating. If you donate cash with a church envelope, then the church should be tracking your donations and issuing you a receipt each year. That is a valid receipt.

The moral: Donate through one of the following methods:

• Use your church envelope if you get them
• Pay with an online check
• Get your church to sign up with Faith Direct for EFT withdrawals
• Pay with a regular old paper check

Happy Giving!

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