HOW DOES THE ZERO-COST DONATION WORK? This unique option uses federal deductions and 65% Virginia NAP Income Tax Credits to give you tax savings equal to the full value of your donation (And if you make your donation with appreciated assets, not only will your donation cost nothing, you will actually get back more in taxes saved than your total donation amount.  More on this below) Here's how the basic Zero-Cost Donation works - Assume that you make a $10,000 donation by check to the Soho Center.  This $10,000 donation will give you the standard $10,000 federal deduction worth approximately $3,500 of federal tax savings. In addition, you will receive a 65% Virginia Income Tax Credit - in this case a credit of $6,500.  You can use this tax credit, dollar-for-dollar, to pay your Virginia income tax obligations (or receive a refund of previously-paid taxes from the current year).   In other words, your donation of $10,000 gives the Soho Center $10,000 of support - while lowering your combined federal and state taxes by $10,000 - which makes the net cost of your donation zero. You can, of course, scale the donation amount up or down as you wish, but the zero cost remains. About Appreciated Assets: . If you make your donation with appreciated assets, you will get the full zero-cost effect discussed above.  In addition, you will eliminate fully the capital gains tax you would have paid had you sold the appreciated asset.  The result is that you will save in taxes more than the cost of the donation; you will actually come out ahead dollar-wise. For more on the significant extra advantages of donating appreciated assets, please Click Here for an article by David Marotta, well-respected financial advisor and contributor to Washington Post, Forbes, LA Times, Money Magazine, Dow Jones MarketWatch, Financial Planning Magazine, and  Investment Advisor. WHAT'S THE "RIGHT" DONATION AMOUNT? Donors often ask what is the "right donation amount" - especially when the donation doesn't cost anything. Our general advice (if you want to do the most good) is to take your total annual Virginia income tax obligation and multiply it by 1.5 to get the "right" amount. Here's why - If, for example, your total annual Virginia income tax obligation is $5,000, then donate $7,500 ($5,000 x 1.5).  If you do this, the 65% tax credit you receive will be approximately $5,000 which will essentially redirect your entire year's worth of Virginia income tax, giving the maximum donation to the Soho Center - at no cost to you. In other words, multiplying your total annual Virginia income tax obligation by 1.5 and donating that amount will create a tax credit that will complete eliminate your Virginia income tax, and it will lower your federal tax by an amount that will make your total donation cost nothing. ________________________________________________ If you have any questions or are ready to make a donation and take advantage of this unique zero-cost option, please first call Soho's Director, Jeanna Beker, at 540-923-5012 to confirm the availability of tax credits and to get the simple half-page form needed for your Tax Credit* from the state. NOTE: If you make your donation with appreciated assests (stock or other securities), your tax savings will be even bigger since you won't have to liquidate them (and pay capital gains) before using the net proceeds to make your donation.

NOTE:   If you are in the 15%, 25%, or 28% federal tax bracket, you can still make a \zero-cost donation using a modified approach.  For more information on this option, please Click Here.

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