Charitable donations are a great way to benefit charities and other non-profit organizations. Though it may seem relatively simple to make a charitable contribution, claiming such a donation for income tax purposes may be more complicated than expected if that donation is in the form of a non-cash gift. Instead of cash or other liquid assets, business owners will sometimes donate a portion of their business or investment holding entity to a charitable organization. Depending on certain factors, the IRS may require such donors to supply certain information (i.e., a business valuation) to prove a taxpayer's right to deduct charitable contributions. Business appraisals for the IRS must be performed by a qualified business valuation professional, which the IRS defines as an appraiser who has been accredited by a national appraisal organization and regularly receives compensation for performing valuations.
