[hnbad]

I don't consider paying your taxes generosity, especially when you're in a tax bracket that used to have a marginal tax rate of 80-90%.

Neither is "donating" your income to your own charitable organization, which is a well-established tax avoidance scheme rather than actual humanitarianism.

[kortilla]

You do know that you lose more than the deduction, right? If you’re just trying to save money, it’s always better to not donate in the first place.

[GaelFG]

I think the parent was referencing fake non profit organization, I don't know for USA but in europe it's a 'classical' tax avoidance trick going from 'having a charity which goal is to allow you to particpace in pricey leisure activities (work for mechanical sports for exemple) to the infamous Ikea tax evasion scheme, here is a random article talking about it but you have lot other if the subject interest you : https://www.fastcompany.com/3035734/ikea-is-a-nonprofit-and-.... Take care the worl is a little bit darker after ^^.