Tax Implications for a Car Donation
May 25th, 2011There is no question that a car donation made to a charitable institution can help a person in need. But aside from that, you can also get a tax deduction for the donation. To properly guide you on the proper procedures set forth by the IRS for claiming a deduction on your next tax return, here are some useful information:
Qualified Organizations – According to the IRS, only qualified organizations can receive car donations for tax deduction purposes. The IRS identifies the recognized charitable, educational and religious institutions in the IRS Publication 78, under the section on Cumulative List of Organizations. You can also visit the IRS website for more information.
Itemized Deductions – A car donation can only be claimed as a tax deduction if you opt to itemize your expenses and not when you use the standard deduction in your tax returns. More information can be found on IRS Topic 501 (Should I Itemize?) that discusses the merits of both the itemized and standard deductions.
Donate a Car Directly – Donate the vehicle directly to the charity of your choice. Your charity will receive less if you do it through a middleman. The idea is for the charity to get maximum benefit from the donation, not the middleman.
Ask for a receipt – Usually, the charity will sell your car and use the money to fund its projects. Proceeds from the vehicle donation will be the amount you can use for your tax deduction. If the amount is in excess of $500, you must accomplish Section A of IRS Form 8283 and attach it to your tax return. The IRS has set a 30-day limit from the date of sale for the charity to send you the receipt showing how much it got from the sale.
Independent Appraisal – If your car has an estimated value of over $5,000, you must obtain valuation from through an independent appraisal. This is particularly significant if the beneficiary does not sell the car, and opting instead to use it for its operations. In such a case, the tax deductible amount will be the appraised value of the car. For cars valued at less than $5,000 and left unsold by your charity, an independent appraisal is not necessary. An IRS-accepted guide like the Kelley Blue Book may be used to determine the vehicle’s value.
In case your valuation is questioned by the IRS, be ready to present recent receipts for major repairs or tire purchase to justify the amount claimed. The IRS may impose penalties for misrepresenting the correct car donation valuation. This is a problem you will have to resolve alone and the charity cannot help you out ?
In case your valuation is questioned by the IRS, be ready to present recent receipts for major repairs or tire purchase to justify the amount claimed. The IRS may impose penalties for misrepresenting the correct car donation valuation.
This is a problem you will have to resolve alone and the charity cannot help you out.?
