Don’t get tied up in an audit when you tie the knot

Taxtok is at it again. We’ve seen variations of this before - basically it’s ways to “deduct” the cost of your wedding through charitable contributions - and usually goes something like this: book a venue at a non-profit location so you can deduct the cost of the venue, donate your wedding dress/bridesmaid dresses and left-over food/flowers to a non-profit.

In theory - could you get a tax-break by doing this? Yes - but remember, the burden of proof is on you, the taxpayer, to provide documentation and support justifying the value of the donations.

Also keep in mind - when the standard deduction doubled in 2018, it meant that less people use itemized deductions. Itemized deductions are where your charitable donations go. For 2023, the standard deduction for married couples is $27,700, so even if you did donate $10,000 worth of items from your wedding, there’s a possibility that all your itemized deductions still not be greater than the standard deduction, thus providing you with no tax benefit.

We’re a little tired of saying it at this point, but the cuter you get with your tax deductions, the less likely they are to pass muster.