What is a tax-deductible donation?

A tax-deductible donation is a qualifying donation that a donor may use to support an income tax deduction claim.In the South African context, this usually applies when the donation is made to an organisation approved by SARS for Section 18A purposes and the donor (a South African taxpayer) receives a valid Section 18A receipt.Not every donation to an NPO or PBO is automatically tax deductible. The eligibility to issue section 18A receipts is restricted to specific organisations approved by the SARS that use the donations to carry on or fund specific pubic benefits activities in South Africa.In simple terms:Donation = money, goods or qualifying property donated to an organisationTax-deductible donation = a qualifying donation made to a SARS-approved Section 18A organisationSection 18A receipt = the certificate received from the approved Section 18A organisation that the donor uses to support an income tax deduction claimA donation should not be described as tax deductible unless the organisation is approved for Section 18A purposes and the donation meets the relevant requirements.

For the full IT3(d) guide, read: Understanding IT3(d)Related question: How donor tax claims work