donating clothes for tax deduction

[abc]

I went to my local Salvation Army web site and found some 'thrift stores' that I can commute to. Apparently they told me it's only the Thrifts stores that are equipped to accept donated clothing. I forgot to ask if they are ready to write me a reciept. They told me a max of three bags of clothing.

Anyway tonight I did some research because I wanted to find out what $ amount requires a receipt for tax purposes because I had forgotten that figure. It seems to be $250.00, receipt needed in audit situation I believe.

Anyway then I came across a searchable database of qualified donation organizations...

http://www.irs.gov/charities/page/0,,id=15053,00.html


searchable be state and organization name.

What struck me was when I searched for Salvation in my state, none of the locations that showed up in Salvation Army's website for my neighborhood showed up!


Should I bother to only go to the orgs in IRS's list...

Of course this all only matters again in a audit situation....

 

[jadinolf]

I did the search too. Forget it. It's is OK to donate to the SA and it is deductible.

 

[abc]

that's what I'd think... but would it hold up under audit, curious... I know chance of audit is slim.


I also emailed the IRS website email to ask where I can get info on locating any of their listed organizations, since there's no telephone and now address...

I wasn't expecting a reply for weeks...

but I think I got it within the HOUR...

They wrote an explanation and then provided a number to call belonging to a particular dept.


If anyone would like I'll reference my email again and post it.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: abc
that's what I'd think... but would it hold up under audit, curious... I know chance of audit is slim.


I also emailed the IRS website email to ask where I can get info on locating any of their listed organizations, since there's no telephone and now address...

I wasn't expecting a reply for weeks...

but I think I got it within the HOUR...

They wrote an explanation and then provided a number to call belonging to a particular dept.


If anyone would like I'll reference my email again and post it.

I'd be interested becaues I have a prefty hefty pile of old clothes I could stand to get rid of.

 

[abc]

well okay...


i just re-referenced it and reread it... seems more like a number to address my 'concerns' but here it is:

Thank you for your inquiry.

Our online search does not provide contact information for
organizations. To address your concerns, please contact the exempt organizations
customer service at 877-829-5500.

We hope the above information will prove helpful to you.

Sincerely,
The IRS Website Support Team


hope this helps

 

[kranky]

It's OK to donate to the Salvation Army, it will be deductible.

Remember that the organization will NOT put a value on your donated items. If you itemize your deductions, I highly recommend the "It's Deductible" software. It helps you value your items based on IRS-approved methods, and you will be amazed at how much stuff is worth.

Most people I've talked to figure a big trash bag of clothing to be worth about $20. It's a lot more than that, if the clothes are anywhere near decent! I've gotten upwards of $600 in deductions for one tax year using the software. Well worth the cost, especially when you can usually get it free (or almost free) after rebate in January when all the tax software rebates kick in. You do have to get a new version each year because values change.

The only thing I hate about it is that it's an Intuit product.

 

[FearoftheNight]

abc can you pm me about this? thanks alot

 

[Bryophyte]

Kranky, I did the same thing this year using Deduction Pro that I got for free with Taxcut. I'm at about $2500. I NEVER would've valued it at that on my own.

 

[abc]

okay so i successfully donated 2 bags... a receipt was filled out, I keep the white copy, they keep the yellow one underneath.

no declaration of value done on the form... where indeed would I do this, on the tax form?

 

[Bryophyte]

Attach a list of what you donated & the value to the form. You'll enter it on a tax form later. They are not allowed to calculate the value for you.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: abc
okay so i successfully donated 2 bags... a receipt was filled out, I keep the white copy, they keep the yellow one underneath.

no declaration of value done on the form... where indeed would I do this, on the tax form?

Schedule A will have an area for charity donations.
Tax S/W will prompt you for this.

You will need to itemize though, the standard deduction will not accept a charity doonation.

 

[Engineer]

It is advised that you keep photos of your donations (general, not every item) in case of audit.

 

[Ryan]

When I donate to Good Will, they will not put a value on what I donate. You are the one responsible for assessing the value of what you donate.

 

[flot]

Don't forget you've only got unitl tomorrow to do it.

I also use its deductable, and I have legitimately come up with ~$600 of donations this year, so considering that's ~$200 off on my taxes, I also agree that it's worth the $20.

(in all honesty, the software is garbage, but the fact that it lets you quickly and easily itemize/organize your deductions and then prints out the forms etc for you makes it $20 for peace of mind if I ever get audited)

This AM I dropped off a couple computers, 2 big bags of clothes, and a bunch of other misc stuff at goodwill - just like last year the person who didn't speak english refused to sign the nice itemized receipt that itsdeductable prints out, but he did give me a generic signed receipt of their own for me to fill out. Oh well.

I do take digital photos of most of the stuff I'm donating (for instance, 20 shirts laid out on the floor), and then one last pic as it's all loaded in the back of my truck, so I'll have a reasonable record that I actually donated it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you purchase tax S/W for deductions, the S/W itself is an deductible expense

 

[Fritzo]

I like the Salvation Army. They just give you a blank receipt that you fill out with whatever values you want. BWWWAAAAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAAAAA!!!!!

Just make sure it's the Salvation Army. One time I went to the Salivation Army and it was just a bunch of guys in uniforms drooling all over the place.

 

[classy]

I believe its up to $500 before you need to have a reciept, not sure but I a pretty sure its between $450-500 you can deduct with out having a reciept.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
When I donate to Good Will, they will not put a value on what I donate. You are the one responsible for assessing the value of what you donate.

Yes. Goodwill offers a guide to suggested donated rates per item. You can estimate what you've donated. It's a good idea to jot down what you've donated and maybe take a few photographs to support your donation (if you deduct them on your taxes).

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Kranky, I did the same thing this year using Deduction Pro that I got for free with Taxcut. I'm at about $2500. I NEVER would've valued it at that on my own.

The problem with that is now you will need to support it.


Non-Cash Charitable deductions technically do not need to fill out form 8283 if less than $500 in aggregate. Otherwise, you will need to fill it out and be prepared to support it, if audited (receipts, pictures, etc).

For contributions over $250 you need written acknowledgement from the organization. Note: You do NOT need to send the acknowledgement in when you file, but you will need it if you are audited.

 

[abc]

what is the national 'average' if this figure exists, that a US tax payer claims, in donations?

if you're within that average i doubt there's a likelihood you'd get flagged... there could be of course other things in your return that may make a audit more likely...

lastly if a audit comes down, and you can't proof you donated 2,500$ of clothing, then I don't think you go to jail... this is not serious enough...

what's likely going to happen I think is, you just can't make that deduction, then pay back the IRS the amount in taxes you should have owed, PLUS what ever interest penalty the IRS applies.

 

[andy2812]

Originally posted by: abc
what is the national 'average' if this figure exists, that a US tax payer claims, in donations?

About five years ago, Money magazine said that the average charitable contribution was about $1,700. I'm sure it's well over $2,000 by now. I highly doubt that taking the average deduction will trigger an audit.

 

[slycat]

i donated $100 to the red cross 1/2 yr ago...i got only an email as proof. is that deductible?

 

[abc]

slycat, of course it's deductible.... you can deduct ALL YOU WANT.....

but if some reason you are called for an audit, or a phone call or a letter about this deduction, then you have to give them some proof such as that email or some credit card statment charge... i'm assuming that's how you got a email recpt?

the point is, everything is 'IN CASE OF AUDIT' or inquiry....