What is the primary reason donations to for-profit businesses are not tax-deductible?

Donations to for-profit businesses are not tax-deductible primarily because these businesses are designed to generate profits for their shareholders. The tax code allows for deductions primarily for contributions made to organizations that serve a charitable purpose, such as non-profit organizations that operate for educational, charitable, religious, or scientific purposes.

For-profit entities, by definition, operate to create profit for their owners or shareholders, which means their activities are primarily geared toward maximizing financial returns, rather than serving the public good. Consequently, contributions to for-profit businesses do not fulfill the criteria established for tax-deductibility. The intent behind donation tax deductions is to encourage support for non-profit entities that provide societal benefits, and for-profit businesses do not meet this intent since they focus on profit-making.

The other options touch on aspects that do not directly relate to the tax deduction criteria established by the IRS, such as government oversight, charitable work, and religious purposes, which are more relevant to non-profit organizations rather than defining the core function of for-profit businesses.