Ever heard someone claim that when you donate at checkout, companies pocket tax benefits from YOUR generosity? That myth needs busting.

A viral take recently suggested retailers use customer donations as corporate tax write-offs. Sounds shady, right? Except there's one problem: it's completely false.

Here's what actually happens: When you round up your purchase or add a dollar at the register, that money goes directly to the designated charity. The company acts purely as a middleman—they collect and forward the funds. Legally, they cannot claim your donation as their own tax deduction. Doing so would constitute financial fraud.

Why the confusion? Probably because corporations DO get tax benefits from their OWN charitable contributions. But customer donations? Those belong to YOU on paper, even if you don't itemize deductions.

So next time someone warns you about checkout charity schemes, you'll know the real deal. The system has flaws, sure, but illegal tax manipulation isn't one of them.