Do you support the football team of a local college or your alma mater? You may be eligible for a tax break for your generosity.

How it works: If you donate funds to a college booster club or similar program, you may deduct part of the payment as a charitable contribution, even if the gift provides you with preferred ticket status for games. The deduction is limited to 80% of the donation.

However, any part of the payment that goes toward actual tickets is nondeductible. You must subtract the cost of the tickets before the 80% rule is applied.

Example: John pays $1,000 a year to belong to a booster club. This gives him the right to buy season tickets to football games. If the gift does not provide any tickets in return, he can deduct $800 (80% of $1,000). But if the donation covers tickets at a cost of $500, John's deduction is limited to $400 (80% of the difference between $1,000 and $500).