Abstract
This Article provides a succinct overview of the main federal income tax law rules affecting charitable contributions. This Article covers all principal topics, including: eligibility to receive deductible contributions, eligible gifts, the amount allowed as a deduction, the specific rules for gifts of noncash property, contributions to certain split-interest trusts, substantiation rules, and valuation. This Article also touches on the estate and gift tax charitable deduction and provides a survey of select policy issues, including the rationale and form of the tax benefit, concerns about efficiency, the ability to deduct the appreciation in value of property, a nonitemizer deduction, and simplification.