I have been in prolonged discussions with the GA Dept of Revenue over my charitable contributions.
I was told by one person that I needed to get a receipt from the usher when I put cash into the offering plate.
Still working through this problem.
It's easy enough. Just don't claim a tax deduction for doing something your faith says you should be doing anyway. [asbestos suit on]
Patronage jobs.
"Here, since you worked on so-and-so's campaign, I'll see that your health insurance gets paid and you'll have some flash money to boot. Plus, you'll have plenty of money to contribute to my campaign next year, won't you?
"Don't worry, you can fax in your work hours monthly from wherever you are at the time. Oh, and we'll give you office space, too, where you can make copies, use the phone at tax-payer expense, impress your friends by meeting them in the boardroom, etc.
"Oh, and every so often somebody will call up asking tax advice, but you know how that goes: no tax advice that you get from anyone other than a lawyer is expected to be right. Even the IRS gives faulty tax advice 50% of the time." HF