Donated Urn to Monastery

[HV Ken]

Here is one we haven't seen before.

Client's spouse died. Had funeral in funeral home. Spouse was cremated. All funeral expenses were covered at the funeral home.

On a separate note, the client presented the spouse's remains to their monastery - religious temple. The receipt from the monastery says it is a non-profit organization. The receipt says Memorial Terrace, and client gave several thousand dollars to the monastery for this.

Does anyone have any experience with something like this? Would this be considered a charitable donation? Would it be offset by the market value received from the donation? Is this too morbid for everyone??

Thanks for any thoughts or insights.

[Lion EA]

Wouldn't it be the same as paying a cemetery? Client paid monastery to house the spouse/urn on their memorial terrace.

[Gail in Virginia]

I tend to agree with Lion. Unless the receipt state that no goods or services were received in exchange for this payment, I would think this is the cost of interring the ashes in their memorial terrace. Even if the receipt does have the appropriate language to make it a contribution, I would want to ask some questions about whether or not it was in payment for spouse's "burial."

[JohnH]

Whether or not any services were rendered is the burning question here...

[ILLMAS]

Ouch, what a burn

[Jack from Ohio]

This thread is too hot for me....