IRS Warns of Relief Scams Related to Hurricanes Milton and Helene: The IRS has warned taxpayers who donate to victims of Hurricanes Milton and Helene to be on the lookout for scammers using fake charities to steal their money and personal information (News Release IR 2024-269). Scammers typically use names that resemble well-known charities and may also use emails, fake websites, or alter or "spoof" their caller ID to confuse people. Interested donors should do their research first and check a charity's credentials before donating, such as asking for the charity's name, website, and mailing address so they can independently confirm the information. One way to verify a charity's legitimacy is by using the IRS' Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search). The tool is also used to check if an organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. Contributions to fake charities, not recognized as 501(c)(3) organizations by the IRS, are not eligible for the charitable deduction under IRC Sec. 170.
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