How do I claim a $13k donation to an international charitable organization on my taxes?

So my close family friend recently relocated back to his home country of Nigeria and started a non-profit organization there. Last year I made a donation of $13,000 to support his work, and now I'm trying to figure out what documentation I need for my tax return. I reached out to my friend about this, and he's willing to provide whatever paperwork or documentation I need to claim the deduction properly. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that a detailed letter might be sufficient for tax purposes, but I want to make sure I'm doing this correctly before filing. Anyone have experience with claiming charitable donations to international organizations? What specific documentation would the IRS require in this situation? I don't want to miss out on the deduction, but also don't want to risk any issues with my return.

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18 comments

QuantumQueen

•8M

You need to make sure the foreign charity qualifies for US tax deductions first - not all international organizations are eligible. The IRS generally only allows deductions for donations to US-based 501(c)(3) organizations, but there are exceptions for some foreign charities under tax treaties. Ask your friend if their organization has an IRS determination letter or is registered in the US. If not, check if they partner with a US charity that can issue you a receipt (called fiscal sponsorship). Many international charities do this specifically so US donors can get tax deductions. For documentation, you'll need a written acknowledgment that includes: the organization's name, donation date, donation amount, and a statement that you received no goods or services in return. For donations over $250 (which yours is), this written acknowledgment is absolutely required - a canceled check or bank statement alone isn't enough.

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QuantumQueen

•8M

You're partly right about the treaties. Some countries do have tax treaties with the US that allow certain deductions, but it's not automatic. The foreign organization still needs to meet specific requirements similar to US 501(c)(3) organizations. Most donors find it easier to give through a US charity that partners with the foreign organization. This ensures you get a proper receipt from a US entity that the IRS readily accepts. Your friend's organization might already have such a partnership in place, so it's worth asking about that first.

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Ethan Wilson

•8M

I had a similar situation when I was trying to support my cousin's education initiative in Mexico last year. After tons of research, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which seriously saved me. Their AI analyzed all my donation documents and told me exactly what I needed for IRS compliance with international donations. With your $13k donation, you definitely need proper documentation - and international donations have extra scrutiny. The tool specifically highlighted that I needed the charity's official registration in their home country, a detailed receipt with specific language about "no goods or services received," and proof of the money transfer. You can upload your current documentation and it'll tell you what's missing before you file.

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Ethan Wilson

•8M

Yes, it absolutely works with foreign charities - that's actually why I found it so helpful. It has specific guidance for donations to organizations in different countries and explains the treaty provisions that might apply. It saved me from the exact errors I was getting in TurboTax. Regarding AI vs. CPA, I understand the skepticism. What I found useful is that it specifically flagged which documents I was missing and what language needed to be on my receipts. Of course, for really complex situations a specialist CPA is great, but they're expensive for what was ultimately a documentation question in my case.

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Carmen Flores

•8M

I have to admit I was wrong about using AI for tax help! I tried taxr.ai after my skeptical comment and it actually provided really clear guidance for my situation. I had made donations to both domestic and international organizations and was confused about different documentation requirements. The system immediately identified that my international donation receipt was missing specific language about "no goods or services received" which would have been a problem during an audit. It also explained which treaty provisions applied to my donation to a UK charity. I'm actually impressed with how specific the advice was - saved me from having to schedule and pay for a CPA consultation just for this one question!

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Andre Dubois

•8M

After dealing with the IRS for THREE WEEKS trying to get clarification about international donation requirements, I finally discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). You can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days! The agent confirmed that for international donations like yours, you need specific documentation showing the organization's charitable status in their country AND confirmation that they'd qualify under US standards. She also mentioned that donations over $5,000 often need additional substantiation. The call saved me from making a serious mistake on my return. Definitely worth it instead of waiting on hold forever or getting disconnected repeatedly!

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Andre Dubois

•8M

The service uses a system that continually redials the IRS using their phone tree system until it gets through. Once connected, it calls you and connects you to the live IRS agent. It's not magic - it's just automating the frustrating process of calling, getting disconnected, and having to start over. They don't keep you on hold at all - that's the whole point. You only get called when there's an actual IRS agent ready to talk. I was skeptical too before trying it, but after spending days trying to get through myself, it was a huge relief to actually speak with someone who could answer my specific questions about international donation documentation.

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Zoe Alexopoulos

•8M

I need to publicly eat my words here. After calling the IRS myself for TWO DAYS straight with no luck, I reluctantly tried Claimyr out of desperation. I was 100% sure it would be a waste of money, but I was at my wit's end trying to get clear guidance on some tax treaty questions for charitable donations. To my complete shock, I got a call back within 45 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent was super helpful and walked me through exactly what documentation I needed for my situation. They explained that my donation to a Canadian charity qualified under the US-Canada tax treaty, but I needed specific language on my receipt. Saved me from potentially losing a substantial deduction. I'm still surprised it actually worked!

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Jamal Carter

•8M

Something important that nobody's mentioned yet - if your donation is over $500 to a foreign organization, you'll need to file Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Contributions) with your return. And since your donation is over $5,000, you might need a qualified appraisal depending on what type of donation it was. One thing to be VERY careful about - the IRS scrutinizes foreign donations much more closely than domestic ones, especially with the crackdown on money laundering. Make sure your friend's organization is legitimately registered as a charity in Ghana and get documentation of that fact.

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Jamal Carter

•8M

For a cash donation (like your wire transfer), you won't need Form 8283 or an appraisal - those are only for non-cash donations like property, stocks, artwork, etc. For your cash donation, you'll need a receipt or acknowledgment letter from the organization that includes: the organization's name, the amount donated, the date of the donation, and a statement that no goods or services were provided in exchange for the donation. Since your donation is over $250, this written acknowledgment is absolutely required by the IRS.

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