DONATE your car or truck, in any condition, to United Talmudical Academy, Lakewood, for a full tax deduction. Call (732) 961-0999.

- The American Cancer Society, Dover Township, also accepts donations of used vehicles. Owners can sign over the title and receive an income tax deduction for the retail value of their vehicle. The American Cancer Society will auction your donation to raise revenue for the fight against cancer. The group takes vehicles of any make, model or condition. Call (800) 318-6661.

- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society accepts donations of used vehicles. Owners can sign over the title and receive an income tax deduction for the retail value of their vehicle. The MS Society auctions donations to raise revenue for the conference-call program for those who have MS and live a nursing home or are homebound. Call (732) 643-0010.

- Big Brothers Big Sisters in New Jersey is running a car campaign to support their programs. Donated cars are sold at auction and the proceeds are used by the organization. Those interested in donating their cars should call (800) 859-6526.

- The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for people to donate their old cars and machinery in exchange for a tax deduction. Acceptable donations include cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, boats, and farm and contruction equipment. For information or to donate, call (877) 332-7677.

- The Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey can assist you in disposing of an unwanted vehicle through its Car Campaign for Boys and Girls. Arrangements will be made to pick up the car in just a few days. Not only will the donor solve a disposal problem, the market value of the vehicle may be taken as a tax deduction. For information, call (800) 246-0493.

Read this original article here at the Asbury Park Press.

The arrival of those annual financial statements known as W-2s and 1099s means that it is time to deal with some of unfinished business from last year-the preparation of the 2005 tax return. While there have not been as many radical changes to the Internal Revenue Code as there have in some years, there are always new items and key numbers for taxpayers to be aware of. The personal exemption now reduces taxable income by $3,200, which is an increase of $100 from 2004, while the standard deduction for singles is now an even $5,000 ($6,000 for those over 65 years of age), a jump of $150 over the 2004 amount. The marriage penalty, as far as the standard deduction goes, has been eliminated, as it is now $10,000 for married couples filing jointly ($12,000 if both spouses were over 65 years of age in 2005).

As any motorist knows, the price of gasoline soared last year. The Internal Revenue Service has conceded as much but it has done so in a rather strange way. If you used your automobile for business in the first eight months of 2005, you are allowed to deduct 40.5 cents per mile driven as the standard rate. That amount shoots up to 48.5 cents per mile for miles driven from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31. Obviously, taxpayers will be on the honor system to report mileage or to at least make a reasonable attempt to calculate this deduction. As always, you can deduct the actual costs of repairs and gasoline if the actual receipts you have collected exceeds that of the standard mileage calculation. Higher gasoline costs has affected other deductions as well. The IRS has always allowed a deduction for the use of one’s car for doing charitable work, but it has long been a measly 14 cents per mile. That is still the case for the first eight months of 2005, but that figure jumped to 34 cents per mile for the period from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. In addition, the IRS has permitted a deduction for transportation costs with respect to both medical and moving expenses. For both of these categories, the standard mileage rate is 15 cents per mile for the first eight months of 2005, and 22 cents per mile for the last third of the year. Don’t ask me why the tax laws allow different mileage rates for the different categories of deductions. You may have noticed that you were not as bombarded by radio ads urging you to donate your old car to a nonprofit organization at the end of 2005 as you were at the end of past years. That is because the IRS wants to crack down on an area where many were taking generous deductions in their opinion. Until 2005, the IRS basically went along with the car values listed in the Kelly Blue Book. Now it is demanding proof showing how much your car actually netted when it was sold by the charity in question. Apparently, the IRS felt that the Kelly listings were a bit inflated. If the charity did not sell your car but used it for its own operations, you will need documentation of that from the nonprofit organization and the Kelly Blue Book figure will be allowed. If you had an old clunker that you just wanted to get rid of, the IRS will allow you to take a deduction of $500 for the donation of your vehicle on Form 8283, no questions asked.

Read this entire article at the Queens Chronicle..

The Times

RENSSELAER | Transportation is one of the many vital programs provided by Jasper County Community Services.

Heuring Ford, a sponsor of JCCS transportation needs for the past year, was presented with a “thank you” gift recently from some of the Rensselaer Senior Center participants.

JCCS provides bus services to anyone needing a ride within the county, as well as arranging for out-of-town transportation when possible. As a Medicaid approved provider the agency is also able to assist in medical transportation for medical appointments through the JCCS office.

With the rising costs of gasoline, budget funds are stretched for many agencies that are dependent on county, state and federal funding. The business community of Jasper County has been supportive of Jasper County Community Services through donations.

“We serve meals each day at our centers, provide social and community programs, as well as workshops offering a wealth of information,” stated Executive Director Sharon Colee. “Businesses like Heuring Ford make it possible to serve those with transportation needs, and we are greatly appreciative of their support.”

Read the rest of this article at the Northwest Indiana News here.

The American Diabetes Association in Connecticut is still asking for donations of cars. The suc-cessful fund raising program is now entering its fifth year and the funds are helping local programs. To donate a car, calls may be made to 1-800-212-9900. Cars that are accepted will be picked up in just a few days.

DONATE A CAR, HELP A LUNG ALONG: Consider donating your old car, van or motorcycle to the American Lung Association of Connecticut for a tax deduction on next year’s taxes. If you do-nate your vehicle, you will receive the highest tax deduction allowable by law. Call the American Lung Association of Connecticut at 1-800-LUNG USA and we will give you an application and a free NADA quote for the value of your vehicle right over the phone. We will even pick up your vehicle free of charge and send you the forms needed to claim your tax deduction. You don’t have to be home when we make the pick up. You can also find vehicle donation information on our website at www.alact.org.

CARS FOR KIDS - Big Brothers and Big Sisters reminds people with unwanted cars that now is the time to donate. It’s a program designed to raise funds for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and is being conducted throughout Connecticut. Big Brothers/Big Sisters benefits from the sale of each car and the person donating a car gets rid of an unwanted vehicle and may also claim a tax deduc-tion for making a charitable contribution. The environment is helped by ridding the area of unsightly polluting cars. Everyone benefits! All you have to do is call 1-800-605-9366.

Read the rest of this article here.