Readers' forum: Deductible donations

I was wondering whether companies that either sponsor a charity or advertise in a charitable publication have any tax incentive to do so. Is this simply a business transaction or is any further relief available? For example if a local charity is putting on a sponsored event and a company advertises on a flyer or in an accompanying magazine would both types of cost be tax-deductible? And supposing the company sponsored some runners in a charity marathon is that tax-deductible as a gift?

 

I also act for a company that has agreed to pay for some upgrades to a local football pitch as well as new floodlights and clubhouse. The pitch now has a large sign featuring the firm’s name as sponsor of the teams that play there. Perhaps I should add that these are youth teams rather than a...