If you’re like most people, chances are you haven’t given much thought to how taxes affect your financial life. After all, it seems like every other question we have deals with our pay stubs and bank statements. But while accountants may not be talking about you as much as they used to, there is still a fair amount of interest in how taxes affect personal finances. And when it comes to the taxation of plasma donations, the answer is actually quite surprising. In this article, we’ll answer some of the most common questions surrounding plasma donation taxes so that you can make your own informed decision about whether or not you should do it.
Do You Have To Claim Plasma Donations On Your Taxes?
No, Plasma donations are not considered taxable income. Plasma donations are a form of altruism and do not have any associated benefits or tax deductions. There are a few exceptions to the rule, such as if you make a profit from the plasma donation, then it would be taxable income. However, for most people, plasma donations are considered charitable contributions and will not affect your taxes.
When Does Donating Plasma Become Taxable?
-
In-State and Out-of-State Donations
If you are a citizen of a state without an income tax, then giving plasma donations will incur no taxes. In contrast, if you’re a citizen of a state that does have an income tax, you may be required to pay those taxes. If so, the government will expect to receive a portion of your plasma donation, just as they would with a retail purchase. The issue comes down to where you live, and it’s not an easy answer. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the problem. Keep in mind that state income taxes apply to both in-state and out-of-state residents. If you can limit your plasma donation trips to states with no income tax, you may be able to limit your income tax burden. For example, if you live in Florida and you go to California for plasma donations, you will incur income tax on your donations. However, if you live in Florida, you will not incur income tax on your donations.
-
Back Pain Bounties
If you’re a plasma donor that lives in a state with income tax and makes donations to other states without an income tax, you may be eligible to receive “back pain” state taxes. For example, let’s say that you live in California, and you decide to donate plasma in Nevada. In this case, you would not incur tax on your donations. However, that would not apply to the government, which would expect to collect state income tax from you. Fortunately, the government is happy to let you “pay them back” for their mistake. All you have to do is donate plasma and have the state tax department send you a check for the amount they should have collected from you. That way, you don’t owe them money, and the government doesn’t owe you taxes.
-
Fulfilled Good Samaritan Laws
One of the most common ways that a person’s tax situation can change is through a state’s fulfilled good Samaritan laws. Fulfilled good Samaritan laws are state laws that require donors to pay taxes on every donation of biohazardous materials, regardless of where they are made. If you make donations without paying taxes, you will be held liable for the taxes on all future donations. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the problem, including fulfilling the good Samaritan laws. One way to do this is to have the state tax department send you a check for the amount they should have collected from you for your future donations. That way, you don’t owe them money, and the government doesn’t owe you taxes.
-
Final Payment Requirements
Another common factor in a donor’s tax situation is the final payment requirement. This is when the state requires payment of income tax for all future donations, regardless of where they are made. In most cases, the final payment requirement is triggered by the state’s fulfilled good Samaritan laws. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the problem. One way to do this is to have the state tax department send you a check for the amount they should have collected from you for your future donations. That way, you don’t owe them money, and the government doesn’t owe you taxes.
-
Donor Earned Income Credit
As you may have noticed, a lot of the information we’ve discussed so far comes in the form of “if you do this, then this will happen.” Thankfully, this is not always the case, and there are some instances where the government will be happy to help. One of these instances is when a donor qualifies for the donor earned income credit. Generally speaking, the donor-earned income credit is a credit for those who have paid income tax on their own donations. This means that if you have paid income taxes on your own plasma donation, you may be able to get a refund when you donate. That way, you don’t owe them money, and the government doesn’t owe you taxes.
-
Exemptions for Religious Objectors and Charities
Fortunately, the government does have some leniency when it comes to taxes. In many instances, you do not need to pay taxes on a donation if you are a citizen of a state without an income tax, you are an out-of-state citizen, and you are donating plasma without compensation. There are two major exceptions to this rule. The first exception is the religious objection exemption. The religious objection exemption allows a donor to claim a donation without paying taxes if they cite a religious objection to paying taxes.
How Do I Claim My Plasma Donations On My Taxes?
-
Register Your Plasma Donations With the IRS
Before you start collecting plasma, you’ll need to make sure the IRS knows you’re accepting donations. There are two ways to go about this. The first is to register with the Plasma Donor Establishment Registration (PDERE) program. This program is run through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it’s the only way you can get a Plasma Donor Number (PDN). Once you have a PDN, you’ll be able to submit tax forms that are specially designed for plasma donors. You can register by visiting the FDA’s website, and you’ll need to provide some basic information about your business. Once you have your PDN and the PDRE program is registered with the IRS, you can start accepting plasma donations.
-
Report Your Self-Employment Income
If you’re earning money from a side gig or have self-employment income, you’ll need to report it as such on your taxes. If you don’t report this income, you’ll be hit with penalties and fees. For example, if you underpay taxes by just $50, they can hit you with a $100 fine. There are two ways you can report self-employment income. You can either report it as “Other Income” on your 1040, or you can use Schedule SE. When you use Schedule SE, you’ll need to estimate your adjusted gross income (AGI) and report half of your income (at the lower AGI) and a half at the higher AGI. If you use Schedule SE, it’s important that you keep track of everything. You’ll probably want to keep detailed notes about every sale or gig you have that earns you money. This way, you can make sure that you’re not accidentally underreporting your income.
-
Report Rental Income From Second Property
If you have any income from renting out a second property, you’ll need to report that too. This could be from a second house, second car, or any other property that’s not your primary residence. You’ll need to report rental income from any source, including Airbnb, VRBO, etc. Make sure you keep track of how much you earn from each rental and report it on your taxes. If you don’t, you could end up paying penalties and fees as well. If you have any questions about how to report rental income from a second property, you can speak with a professional like a tax accountant or tax attorney. These professionals can help you navigate the tax system and find the best ways to report your income. They can also help you optimize your taxes if you want to get the most out of your money while avoiding penalties and fees.
-
Track Your Items to Verify You’re Getting a Good Price
When you’re collecting plasma, you’ll need to keep track of exactly what you get for each donation. This will allow you to make sure you’re getting a good price for every item. You’ll need to write down everything you get for each donation. You can do this in a notebook, on paper, or even in an Excel spreadsheet. You’ll also need to take photos of all the items you receive and label them with the date, the donor’s name, and the price you got for each item. This way, you can verify that you’re getting a good price each time you collect plasma. If you don’t keep track of what you get each time you give plasma, you could be underpaying taxes.
-
Keep Records of Everything Else
If you’re going to collect plasma, you’ll need to keep records of everything you do with it. This means you’ll need to keep track of every donation you make, where you give it, when you make it, how much you get for each donation, what you do with the money once you get it, etc. This will allow you to verify that you’re reporting all your income properly as well as keep track of any expenses you have related to your plasma donations. This will allow you to properly claim any deductions you qualify for on your taxes. If you’re unsure how to properly keep records of plasma donations and make sure you’re reporting your income properly, you can speak with a professional like a tax accountant or tax attorney. These professionals can help you navigate the tax system and find the best ways to keep track of everything. They can also help you optimize your taxes if you want to get the most out of your money while avoiding penalties and fees.
-
Get Paid Through A Payment Plan, Grant, Or Offer In Writing
If you’re looking to get paid quickly, you can offer to make a payment plan. This allows you to get paid over a certain period of time, such as 12 months or 24 months. This also helps if you’re trying to get paid through some other method that takes longer, such as a grant or offer in writing. If you have any questions about how to get paid through a payment plan, grant, or offer in writing, you can speak with a professional like a tax accountant or tax attorney. These professionals can help you navigate the tax system and find the best ways to get paid. They can also help you optimize your taxes if you want to get the most out of your money while avoiding penalties and fees.
Final Words
If you’re interested in donating plasma, you’ll want to be aware of the possible tax consequences beforehand so that you don’t end up regretting your decision. After all, donating plasma is a great way to help others in need while also helping yourself financially. But before you make the decision to become a plasma donor, you’ll want to be prepared for the possible taxes that may come with the decision. Hopefully, by reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re getting yourself into.
