(Radio Iowa) — The final days of 2019 are winding down and so are your chances to make a donation that you can claim on your federal income taxes. I-R-S spokesman, Chris Miller, says you have until Today (Tuesday). “Those who plan to itemized deductions should know that charitable contributions are deductible in the year that they are made. So take care of any last minute donations by December 31st,” Miller says.

He says the day you make the donation is the day that it counts. “Keep in mind that donations charged to a credit card before the end of 2019 count for a 2019 tax year deduction — even if the bill isn’t paid until 2020,” Miller says.  Miller says the same thing goes…”If you’re mailing a check — checks to a charity count for 2019 if they are mailed by the last day of the year,” according to Miller. “So, they don’t have to be processed by the bank or the charity — just mailed by the end of the year.”

Miller says if you make cash or other donation, be sure to get a dated receipt so you can claim them as deductions for this year.