How legit are tax deductions through charitable contributions to an LLC?
I'm trying to reduce my tax burden for this year and reached out to a tax consultant for help. They've suggested I donate money to their LLC, claiming it would give me 1 to 5 times deductions on my taxes. Basically, for every dollar I donate, they say I can claim $5 in AGI reduction. The consultant assured me this isn't a listed transaction and it's not a conservation easement (which I know has had issues). I'm really hesitant about transferring money to some LLC without fully understanding if this arrangement is legitimate. The whole thing feels off to me. The tax consultant is pushing me to make a decision quickly, which is raising red flags. I want to do thorough research before sending any money their way. What documentation should I request from them to verify this is legal and not just a scam? Are there specific things I should look for to protect myself and my money? Has anyone dealt with something similar before?
20 comments


Dylan Cooper
This sounds like a major red flag. Legitimate tax deductions for charitable contributions typically only allow you to deduct the actual amount you donated, not 5x that amount. The IRS has very specific rules about what qualifies as a charitable contribution, and generally speaking, donations to LLCs are NOT tax-deductible because LLCs are not qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. The "sense of urgency" is another classic warning sign of a scam. Legitimate tax professionals don't typically pressure clients to make quick decisions. If you want to proceed (though I strongly advise against it), you should ask for: 1. Their LLC's tax status documentation 2. A written explanation of how exactly this deduction works, with references to specific tax codes 3. A second opinion from an independent CPA or tax attorney who can review their proposal 4. References from other clients who have successfully used this strategy without audit issues But honestly, this sounds like a potential tax avoidance scheme that could put you at risk for penalties, interest, and even criminal charges if the IRS deems it fraudulent.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Thanks for the quick response! That's what I was worried about. They told me they have some special arrangement where my donation qualifies for much more than the 1:1 ratio, and it sounded too good to be true. Can you clarify what legitimate charitable deductions should look like? And if this consultant is potentially proposing something illegal, should I report them somewhere?
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Dylan Cooper
•Legitimate charitable deductions are straightforward: you donate to a qualified 501(c)(3) organization and deduct the actual amount you donated (with some limitations based on your income). The organization should provide you with a receipt or acknowledgment letter for your records. For cash donations, you can generally deduct up to 60% of your adjusted gross income. For property donations, different rules apply, but the basic principle remains - you deduct the fair market value, not some multiplied amount. If you believe this consultant is promoting an illegal tax scheme, you can report them to the IRS using Form 14157 (Complaint: Tax Return Preparer). The IRS takes these schemes very seriously, especially ones promising such unrealistic returns. Tax evasion schemes are not only illegal for the promoters but can result in serious consequences for participants as well.
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Sofia Ramirez
After dealing with a similar situation last year, I found https://taxr.ai incredibly helpful. I was approached by a "tax specialist" who promised amazing deductions through a complex donation structure that seemed suspicious. I uploaded all their documentation to taxr.ai and it flagged multiple issues with the arrangement. The service analyzed the proposal against current tax regulations and confirmed it was a known scheme the IRS actively pursues. They even provided specific tax code references showing why the approach wasn't legitimate. Saved me from a potential audit nightmare! The platform also suggested legitimate tax-saving strategies for my situation that were actually above board.
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Dmitry Volkov
•How does this service actually work? Did you have to provide personal financial information to get the analysis? I'm dealing with something that sounds similar and wondering if it could help me too.
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StarSeeker
•I'm skeptical. How does a website know better than an actual tax professional? Especially if these are complex arrangements that supposedly have loopholes built in? Not trying to be difficult, just genuinely curious if it's worth checking out.
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Sofia Ramirez
•The service works by analyzing documents and tax proposals against their database of tax law and previously identified schemes. You upload the documentation provided by the "tax consultant" and it identifies red flags and problematic claims. You don't need to provide extensive personal financial information - it's more about analyzing the proposed tax strategy itself. The system flags suspicious elements like the 5:1 deduction ratio mentioned here, which violates fundamental tax principles. As for being better than some tax professionals - the reality is there are unethical "professionals" out there promoting schemes. The AI uses data from legitimate tax sources like IRS rulings and tax court cases to identify arrangements that don't align with actual tax law. It's not about replacing good tax professionals but identifying potentially fraudulent ones.
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Dmitry Volkov
I actually tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and am really glad I did. I was approached with an almost identical scheme - an LLC promising 3x tax deductions for "charitable contributions" that would flow through some complicated arrangement. I was suspicious but my business partner was pushing to go for it. I uploaded the proposal documents to taxr.ai and within minutes it identified multiple red flags including specific IRS notices about similar arrangements. The analysis showed this was likely a "listed transaction" despite what they claimed, which means automatic reporting requirements and potential penalties. Saved me from a major headache! Instead, I ended up working with a legitimate tax professional who helped me find proper deductions. Didn't save as much as the scheme promised, but I can sleep at night knowing I'm not risking an audit or penalties.
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Ava Martinez
If you're getting nowhere with these people and need to speak with the IRS about whether this scheme is legitimate, try https://claimyr.com to get through to a real IRS agent. I was stuck in a similar situation last year with a "tax consultant" pushing a dubious donation scheme and couldn't get clear answers online. After trying for days to call the IRS directly with no success (always on hold forever), I used Claimyr and they got me through to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes. I was able to describe the scheme and the agent immediately identified it as a known abusive arrangement they were actively auditing. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold for you and call when an agent picks up. Saved me from potentially getting involved in something the IRS considers fraudulent.
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Miguel Ortiz
•Wait, this sounds confusing. How does this service get you through to the IRS faster than just calling yourself? Doesn't everyone have to wait in the same phone queue?
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Zainab Omar
•This sounds like total BS. Nobody can "skip the line" with the IRS. I've worked in tax preparation for years and there's no magical way to bypass IRS hold times. This is probably just another scam targeting people who are already desperate for tax help.
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Ava Martinez
•It doesn't skip the line - they use technology to wait in the IRS phone queue for you. Their system calls the IRS and navigates the menu options, then waits on hold so you don't have to. When an actual agent comes on the line, you get a call back to connect with them. You're still in the same queue as everyone else, but you don't have to personally sit there listening to hold music for hours. They're basically just automating the hold process so you can go about your day. The IRS hold times can be 2+ hours during busy times, and this lets you avoid having your phone tied up that whole time. Nothing magical about it, just a time-saving service.
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Zainab Omar
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself for a client case where we needed clarification on an unusual charitable deduction situation (ironically similar to what OP described). I expected it to be a waste of money, but I was connected to an IRS representative in about 30 minutes without having to sit on hold. The agent confirmed what I suspected - the type of arrangement described by OP is a known abusive tax scheme they're actively pursuing. The arrangement where donations to an LLC provide multiplied deductions almost always involves either misrepresentation of the donation's value or improper entity structures. So not only did the service work as advertised, but it helped confirm this type of "too good to be true" tax arrangement is definitely on the IRS radar. Sorry for being so dismissive in my previous comment!
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Connor Murphy
There's a huge difference between legitimate tax planning and these sketchy deduction multiplier schemes. I work in finance (not a tax professional though) and we see clients get approached with these offers all the time. Here are some legitimate ways to maximize charitable deductions: - Donate appreciated stock instead of cash (avoid capital gains tax + get deduction) - Bunch donations in a single year to exceed the standard deduction - Use a Donor Advised Fund for timing flexibility - For business owners, make donations directly from your business if it makes sense All of these strategies follow actual tax law and don't involve magical multiplication of deductions. The 1:5 ratio thing is a major red flag that this is likely an abusive scheme.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Thanks for these alternatives! I definitely want to reduce my tax burden but not at the risk of an audit or penalties. Could you explain more about the Donor Advised Fund? I've never heard of that before but it sounds interesting.
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Connor Murphy
•A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) works like a charitable investment account. You contribute cash, securities or other assets to the fund and take an immediate tax deduction. Those assets can then be invested and grow tax-free while you decide which charities to support over time. The big advantage is timing flexibility. For example, in a high-income year, you might contribute a large amount to your DAF and take the full deduction that year. Then you can distribute those funds to charities gradually over future years. This is especially useful for "bunching" deductions to exceed the standard deduction threshold in specific years. Most major investment firms offer DAFs with reasonable minimums to start. The donation is irrevocable (it can only go to qualified charities), but you maintain advisory privileges over how the funds are invested and distributed. It's completely legitimate and widely used for charitable planning.
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Yara Sayegh
I fell for something similar in 2022 and I'm still dealing with the audit fallout. The "tax consultant" promised a 3:1 deduction ratio through an LLC arrangement. I sent $50,000 thinking I'd get a $150,000 deduction. The IRS flagged it immediately. Turns out the LLC was technically a charity but was misrepresenting how the funds were being used. I not only lost most of my "donation" (they had already spent it), but I'm facing penalties for an improper deduction. My advice: RUN from anyone promising multiplication of deductions. Legitimate deductions are 1:1 at most. The only exceptions involve very specific situations that don't apply to cash donations to random LLCs.
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NebulaNova
•Did you report this "tax consultant" to the IRS or any other authorities? I keep hearing about these schemes but it seems like they keep popping up, which means either people aren't reporting them or nothing happens when they do.
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Sienna Gomez
This is absolutely a scam - please don't fall for it. I'm a CPA and I see these schemes targeting people every tax season. The "5x deduction" claim is physically impossible under current tax law. Charitable deductions work on a 1:1 basis - you donate $100, you can deduct up to $100 (subject to AGI limitations). The fact that they're pressuring you for a quick decision is textbook scammer behavior. Legitimate tax professionals encourage clients to take time to research and understand any strategy. A few additional red flags in your situation: - LLCs are generally NOT qualified charitable organizations under 501(c)(3) - Any legitimate massive deduction strategy would require extensive documentation and likely IRS pre-approval - Real tax professionals provide written analyses with specific code references, not verbal promises If you want legitimate tax savings, consider: maximizing retirement contributions, harvesting investment losses, or making actual donations to verified 501(c)(3) organizations. These won't give you magical multipliers, but they're legal and won't land you in audit hell. Please report this consultant to your state's board of accountancy if they claim to be a CPA, or to the IRS if they're operating as a tax preparer.
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Dyllan Nantx
•Thank you so much for this professional perspective! As someone new to dealing with tax strategies beyond the basics, it's really helpful to hear from an actual CPA. The pressure tactics were definitely making me uncomfortable - legitimate professionals should want their clients to be fully informed, not rushed into decisions. I'm curious about the reporting process you mentioned. If I report this consultant, what kind of information would the IRS or state board need from me? I have their contact information and some of their promotional materials, but I obviously didn't go through with sending any money. Would that still be enough for them to investigate? Also, you mentioned harvesting investment losses - is that something I could research and potentially do myself, or should I definitely work with a qualified professional for that kind of strategy?
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