How to Donate Your Car to Charity and Get Tax Deduction

by Jenny Gill

Donating your used car to charity is a win-win situation; the charity gets your gift and you get tax deduction. Below are some simple steps to make a car donation.

1. Understand the rules. A good place to read the government rule on car donation is IRS Publication 4303, A Donors Guide to Car Donations (available on the IRSs website at www.irs.gov). This guide outlines some important rules regarding car donation. For example, one important rule states that car donation must be made to qualified organizations in order to be tax deductible.

2. Determine the value of your used car. Although the blue book might help you determine the value of your car, you should read IRS Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property (available on the IRSs website), to see what your car really worth.

3. Find a charity to donate your vehicle. If you are associated with any charity or non-profit organizations, that organization might be your choice for donating your car. Otherwise, check the Yellow Book or search on the Internet to find an organization to which you feel like donating your car. After you have identified a candidate, you should review IRS Publication 78, which is a list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. This document is also available on the IRSs website and its searchable. Make sure the candidate charity is eligible. Otherwise, you might not get your tax deduction!

4. Make your donation. After you have made the donation, make sure to ask for a written acknowledgement from the charity. You will need to attach this acknowledgement to your tax return in order to get your tax deduction. Author: Jenny Gill is an international author with vast experience in a diverse range of subjects, for more information visit www.donatetocharitysyte.com

Jenny Gill is an international author with an immense range of knowledge and skills in a wide range of areas. Jenny is a mother and a grandmother and devotes a lot of her time supporting the aged in her community.