Amended return for overlooked deduction

[Margaret CPA in OH]

An acquaintance, not client, has asked about filing an amended return with forgotten stock gift to her church in 2104.  She cannot find a written acknowledgement.  I have suggested that she check with the church to see if there exists a dated copy.  I'm not sure whether IRS will allow the deduction even if the copy is dated prior to filing the  original return.  Any clues?  I couldn't easily find this circumstance.

Thanks!

[BulldogTom]

The regulation is very strict.  You must have a contemporaneous written acknowledgement from the charity at the time the original return was filed.  So, if you HAD a contemporaneous written acknowledgment at the time you filed, but forgot to include the deduction on the return even though you could have, I would say you could amend the return.  If they did not provide a written acknowledgement by the time the return was filed, then it should not be amended because they did not fulfill the recordkeeping requirement.

Tom
Newark, CA

[Margaret CPA in OH]

Thanks, Tom. that was my thinking, too.  I just wasn't sure if it could be included on an amended return.  I believe if the church has a properly dated copy and can provide that, it should be good.  People do lose things and it is not at all unlikely that this was lost - if the church sent it.  We shall see.  Thanks for confirming!

[kcjenkins]

Yes, if they can provide a properly dated copy that will work,  but as Tom said, it's a strict rule, can't be a new letter.  

[michaelmars]

not sure but isn't that rule just for checks and cash?

[Abby Normal]

Just backdate the letter. The IRS isn't going to carbon date the ink to see when it was created.

[Jack from Ohio]

11 minutes ago, Abby Normal said:

Just backdate the letter. The IRS isn't going to carbon date the ink to see when it was created.

 

[Abby Normal]