CROWD-FUNDING: Income Tax Implications

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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Crowdfunding is a popular way to raise money online. People often use crowdfunding to fund raise for a business, for charity, or for gifts. It’s important to know that money raised through crowdfunding may be taxable.

Do you have to pay taxes on the money you receive from GoFundMe, etc?

Generally, you will not owe taxes on donated funds you receive from a crowdfunding platform. The IRS considers the money received from GoFundMe to be a gift instead of income, so it is typically not taxable. A gift is any transfer of cash or property you make to an individual without receiving full consideration in return, according to the IRS. People who donate money to GoFundMe to help pay for medical expenses are typically doing it out of generosity and do not expect anything in return. 

Some money raised through crowdfunding may NOT be considered a gift.

Under federal tax law, gross income includes all income from any source, unless it’s excluded from gross income by law. In most cases, gifts aren’t included in the gross income of the person receiving the gift. Here’s what people involved in crowdfunding should know:

  • If a crowdfunding organizer is raising money on behalf of others, the money may not be included in the organizer’s gross income, as long as the organizer gives the money to the person for whom they organized the crowdfunding campaign.
  • If people donate to a crowdfunding campaign out of generosity and without expecting anything in return, the donations are gifts. Therefore, they will not be included in the gross income of the person for whom the campaign was organized.
  • However, not all contributions to crowdfunding campaigns are gifts and may be taxable.
  • When employers give to crowdfunding campaigns for an employee, those contributions are generally included in the employee’s gross income.

Taxpayers may want to consult a trusted tax pro for information and advice regarding how to treat amounts received from crowdfunding campaigns.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

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Post MVA: GO FUND ME for Kirby “Sasha” Fenton

Post M.V.A.

Dr. Charles F. Fenton

My son, Kirby “Sasha” Fenton sustained a devastating medical injury in a motor vehicle accident on January 16, 2018 in Marietta, GA.

As of this writing, he had surgery last night and has additional surgery planned for this morning (due to blood loss during the first surgery). Additional surgeries are expected. He will be in Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for at least a week and then will be transferred to a rehabilitation facility for an extended period of time.

He is NOT expected to make a full recovery. He will have permanent, significant disability.

Sasha needs funds for (1) medical expenses, (2) legal expenses connected to the accident, (3) rehabilitation expenses, and (4) most especially expenses relating to his transitioning to his life as a disabled person – this is really where he needs the bulk of funds.

Marietta Daily Journal Article: http://www.mdjonline.com/news/police-marietta-teen-thrown-from-motorcycle-after-passing-cars/article_c6a53874-fb02-11e7-a34c-8325493600cf.html

Sasha will appreciate your generosity.

Thank You

https://www.gofundme.com/kirby-sasha-fenton-rehab-fund

EDITOR’S DISCLOSURE: Dr. Fenton is a friend, colleague and frequent contributor to this ME-P, as well as our textbooks and related white-papers.

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