Tax receipt for donation: how it works and how to get it
You've just made a donation to Life ONG and are wondering where your tax receipt is? If you're still unsure what an NGO is and why it can issue tax receipts, our article What is an NGO? explains the context. Or perhaps you're not exactly sure what this document is for, or how to use it?
This guide answers all these questions, simply and without jargon.
What is a tax receipt for a donation?
When you donate money to an organization like Life ONG, you are entitled to a tax reduction. But the government can't know this on its own. You need to provide proof. This proof document is the tax receipt.
It's also called a "donation certificate" or "Cerfa donation form". Its official name: Cerfa form n° 11580. It's a standardized document, issued by the organization after each donation, which certifies that you have indeed paid the indicated amount, without any consideration in return.
Why does the government require it?
Because the tax reduction is a benefit granted only for disinterested donations, meaning without anything in return. If you buy a product, even from an NGO, it's not a donation. If you pay a membership fee to access a service, that's not a donation either. The tax receipt certifies that you have given without receiving anything in exchange.
When does Life ONG send the tax receipt?
It all depends on the type of donation you made.
I haven't received my receipt, what should I do?
First thing: check your spam folder. Tax receipt emails sometimes end up in junk mail.
If it's not there either, log in to your donor area on life-ong.org. You'll find your donation history there and can download your receipts at any time.
As a last resort, the Life donor relations department is available to answer all your questions and help you retrieve your document. You can contact them directly from the page life-ong.org/agir/reduction-impot.
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Image : example of a Life ONG tax receipt email received after a one-time donation, with the Cerfa document download button — alt: "Life ONG tax receipt email one-time donation"
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What information is included on a tax receipt?
A valid tax receipt must contain certain mandatory information. Here's what you should see on it:
If any of these elements are missing, the receipt may be rejected by the tax authorities during an audit.
How to use your tax receipt when filing your taxes?
This is where many donors hesitate. The good news: you don't need to attach the receipt to your tax return.
You simply need to enter the total amount of your donations to Life in the correct box of your online tax return on impots.gouv.fr.
Go to step 3 of your online tax return, section "Tax Reductions and Credits". Enter the total amount of your donations for the year. That's all.
Do I need to send the Cerfa form to the tax authorities?
No. You keep the receipt at home. The tax authorities can request it up to 3 years after the year of the donation in case of an audit. With this document, you are protected.
If you have any doubts about the process or the amount to declare, Life's donor relations department can guide you. To accurately calculate your tax benefit, our complete guide to tax deductions for donations 2026 explains everything step by step.
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Image : screenshot of the online tax declaration, box 7UD highlighted — alt : "Where to declare your Life NGO donation box 7UD tax declaration 2026"
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How long should you keep your tax receipt?
The tax authorities recommend keeping tax receipts for at least 3 years after the year of the donation. Some experts recommend 4 years for added security.
For a donation made in 2025, keep the receipt until 2028 at the minimum.
The simplest way: create a dedicated digital folder on your computer or in your email inbox. Each Life receipt is automatically added there. You can also find all your Life receipts in your online donor space at any time.
Is the tax receipt different depending on the donation amount?
No. The format is identical regardless of the amount. Whether you donated €10 or €500 to Life, the Cerfa form you receive is the same document.
What changes is the calculation of the tax reduction you can get from it. To understand everything about rates and caps, our complete guide to tax deductions for donations 2026 explains everything with concrete numerical examples.
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Image : example of an anonymized Life NGO Cerfa tax receipt, with mandatory fields annotated — alt: "Example Cerfa tax receipt for Life NGO donation"
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Tax receipt for a monthly donation to Life: how does it work?
If you have set up a monthly direct debit with Life, you will not receive a receipt after each payment. Life groups all your payments for the year and sends you a single summary tax receipt at the beginning of the following year.
For example, if you donated €10 per month in 2025, you will receive a single Cerfa form in January or February 2026 stating €120 in donations. This is the amount you declare in box 7UD.
To learn more about the benefits of monthly giving and why this method is often more beneficial for Life's work on the ground, check out our article on recurring vs. one-time donations.