FAQ Fees/Taxes

1. When will we receive our invoice for the Acorn plan?
2. Which payment types are subject to the 3% performance fee?
3. How are credit card fees processed for our event?
4. Who do I contact to review or dispute credit card fees?
5. Where can I view credit card fees on my event?

A: If your organization is on the Acorn subscription plan with SchoolAuction.net, you can expect to receive an invoice via email approximately 4–5 weeks after your event concludes. This invoice will include a 3% performance fee, calculated on all revenue collected through non-credit card payment methods such as checks, cash, and open orders.

For credit card transactions processed through your event site, performance and transaction fees are handled automatically by your Deluxe payment gateway. 

Please keep in mind that Deluxe is an independent service provider with its own policies, procedures, and support team. To review the credit card fees applied to your event, you can log into your Deluxe account or contact Deluxe Customer Support directly. Their help desk is available 24/7 and is staffed by real (and friendly) people! You can reach them by calling  888 453 4538.

1. Why doesn't the offset fee feature cover 100% of our card processing fees?
2. Why is there a discrepancy between the fees collected by the software and the fees charged by our gateway?
3. What happens if a supporter opts out of covering the processing fee?

A: It is NOT possible for the processing fees collected by our software to recapture exactly 100% of your credit card processing fees because:

• Some supporters will opt out
• Some gateways charge a flat fee on any transaction attempt (failed, refunds, etc)
• Some gateways retain the original processing fees on refunds
• and because this is a feature of the software, NOT your gateway, the fee collected is calculated on the order total, while your gateway will assess its fee on the transaction total (purchase total + offset fees)

As noted on the setup page, this feature was provided to help you offset some or most of your credit card processing expenses, but will never provide an exact, reconcilable match.

You can find more details about the Offset Fee feature here:  Adding a Donation to Offset Credit Card Processing Fees

1. I refunded a purchase, but the offset fee is still showing on the order—how do I refund that as well?
2. Why does the offset fee remain on the order after I refunded the purchase, and how can I remove or refund it?
3. How can I issue a refund for the offset fee after refunding the original purchase?
4. The purchase was refunded, but the offset fee is still listed—what’s the process to refund that too?

There isn't a simple way to refund an Offset Fee. We recommend creating a Silent item in your Catalog called "Fee Refund" and flagging it as NOT Visible to the Public (under Display Options). Make the FMV = 0. Entering Items: Tips and FAQ

Then manage the order in question and add that item to the order for " -$x ", use the minus sign for whatever the fee amount is, and add it to the order. That will create a credit in the purchases section, and provide a refund link next to the payment to process a refund of that same amount. Editing An Order From The Order Page + Video

1. Who should I contact if I have questions about fees on my Deluxe report?
2. Where can I learn more about the fees listed in my Deluxe Payment Processing statements
3. What is the credit card processing rate with Deluxe Payments?

Your Deluxe Payments processing rate is 3% + $0.30 per transaction. If your organization is on the Acorn subscription plan, an additional 3% performance fee is also withheld from credit card transactions.

You may notice that the terminology used in your Deluxe statements and reports doesn’t always align with what appears in your SchoolAuction.net or TofinoAuctions.com dashboard. That’s completely normal.

This happens because SchoolAuction.net/TofinoAuctions.com and Deluxe Payment Processing are separate companies. While we work closely together to provide integrated credit card processing, each platform has its own system and reporting language.

This article provides an overview and explanation of the various fees that might show up in your Deluxe statements and reports: Understanding Deluxe Fees

If you still have questions about your Deluxe account, fees, reporting, or specific transactions, please contact the experts on the Deluxe Support Team. Their help desk is available 24/7 and is staffed by real (and friendly) people!  You can reach them by calling  888 453 4538 or clicking on the Live Chat icon in the lower right corner on  FirstView™ screens. Firstview™ can be accessed from your Deluxe Payment Platform or by logging in directly (using the same credentials) at https://www.firstview.net/.
 

1. How does the FMV affect the tax deductible amount of an item?
2. How can I donors calculate their tax deduction?
3. Is an item 100% tax deductible if I don't enter an FMV?
4. Can you help me figure out the tax deductions for a supporter?

A:Understanding Tax Deductibility for Auction Purchases

When it comes to charitable deductions, it's important to understand that the IRS does not calculate potential deductions using a simple formula like:

Total Paid – Total Fair Market Value (FMV) = Deduction

Instead, each item must be evaluated individually. A deduction is only possible when a donor pays more than the item’s FMV. If an item is purchased at or below its FMV, it does not qualify for a charitable deduction.

Example:

A supporter purchases two items for a total of $1,000:

• Item A: FMV = $400, Paid = $300
  → No deduction, since it was purchased below FMV
• Item B: FMV = $100, Paid = $700
  → Potential deduction = $600 (amount paid over FMV)

In this case, even though the total paid was $1,000 and the total FMV was $500, the potential deduction is not $500. The deduction must be calculated separately for each item based on the amount paid over its FMV.

We recommend encouraging donors to consult a tax advisor for specific guidance on claiming charitable deductions.