Donating computers, how much can I write off?

[FDF12389]

I have about 20 dell GX240s GX260s, GX270s. The all have 80GB+ and 2GB of ram, what should I value them at for a tax write off? Also where would be the best place to donate them?

 

[blackdogdeek]

i don't know about the write off but i would donate them to a local school. i'm sure they could use more up to date machines.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I'd probably value them with what they are worth (see how much geeks.com charges for similar machines ... or ebay going rate) ....

Otherwise you run the risk of running into trouble if you get audited.....

 

[Crono]

I'd sell them on AT for cheap and donate the money directly.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I have about 20 dell GX240s GX260s, GX270s. The all have 80GB+ and 2GB of ram, what should I value them at for a tax write off? Also where would be the best place to donate them?

Many charities give a receipt for tax purposes.

Check out the Nation Cristina Foundation - www.cristina.org

 

[CPA]

Do you itemize?

 

[Tsaico]

I use the salvage value, since now it has been depreciated the entire amount over however many years.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_calculate_salvage_value

 

[Hacp]

I'd sell them on AT for cheap and donate the money directly.

This. Schools don't need outdated computers with 80gb hard drives.

 

[Tristicus]

Sell them here for cheap and donate the cash...hell I might buy one...the family computer sucks ass.

 

[blackdogdeek]

This. Schools don't need outdated computers with 80gb hard drives.

our district does. 20x p4 1.8ghz would be welcome. my daughter's school had to abandon their computer lab because the machines were so outdated (read: even older than p4).

 

[Powermoloch]

I'm sure those comps can be used, you need to get the message out

 

[BigToque]

ANY school, community centre, church, or library could use those.

As for a tax write off... my post is useless and adds nothing

 

[Xcobra]

Do you itemize?

This. If for tax purposes only. If you're just trying to get rid of them, I'd look online and draw an average.

 

[Leros]

This. Schools don't need outdated computers with 80gb hard drives.

80GB is fine plenty of space for a school. Unless you're storing media, lots of games, or lots of code, 80GB is plenty.

 

[dullard]

If you don't itemize your deductions, this is a moot issue. If you do itemize, read on.

You need to value them at their fair market value. That is, what is the going price? I'd assume that they are roughly $100 each, but you should check ebay selling prices or used computer stores in your local area.

If you donate less than $500 worth of stuff, it is simply based upon your word. You really don't need any proof of value. If you donate more than $5000, then you need appraisals which may be costly or just a hassle (and you have to fill out the lengthly version of IRS form 8283).

I assume your donation is in the ~$2000 range. Thus, you are in between the two cases in the paragraph above. You'd have to fill out form 8283, but you could leave almost all of it blank. Then we get to what I think is a grey area. If you donate more than $500 worth of an "item", you need to give a detailed method of how you determined the fair market value. Are a bundle of 20 computers an "item" or are they 20 items? I'm not a tax expert, so I don't know. But, if you donate 4 bundles of 5 computers with each bundle worth ~$400, then you know for certain that no donation is worth more than $500. In which case you don't even have to specify how you valued the computers (but you should at least have a rough estimate by checking ebay or similar, and print a page with the ebay prices on the date of the donation).

Long winded conclusion: donating in smaller bundles of ~4 computers to several charities may make this a lot easier when tax season comes.

 

[dank69]

80GB is fine plenty of space for a school. Unless you're storing media, lots of games, or lots of code, 80GB is plenty.

The poor kids will have almost no room for porn. :\

 

[Eli]

our district does. 20x p4 1.8ghz would be welcome. my daughter's school had to abandon their computer lab because the machines were so outdated (read: even older than p4).

OMG! Not older than a P4! Throw in the towel!

You can't be serious. A lab full of AMD K6-2/400's would be better than nothing. That's silly.

 

[EagleKeeper]

This. Schools don't need outdated computers with 80gb hard drives.

The CPU is fast enough for training purposes.
The hard drive has enough capacity for the OS and any support programs
2GB memory is more that any general use program needed

 

[BoomerD]

No idea how accurate these are, so YMMV...

http://www.gadgetvalue.com/

http://www.daileyint.com/hmdpc/second.htm