#WHICH CHARITY SHOULD I DONATE MY CAR TO TV#

Scanning copies or taking photos and storing your files in the cloud ensures that you don’t lose them. Make sure you receive paperwork for your donation and maintain it. If the car sells at an auction and the new buyer does not register the car, you are still legally responsible for any incidents or crimes. Some of the non-profits will sell your used vehicle at an auction in the future. They will not ask you to leave that information in the donation paperwork blank. If you do not, you are legally responsible for parking tickets, accidents or crimes committed by the next owner.Īll legitimate non-profits will ask that you transfer the title to them. Whether you donate a car or sell it to an individual or corporation, you’ll need to transfer the title properly.

Don’t make the mistake of giving to a bad charity. Sites like Charity Watch and Charity Navigator can help you confirm that the charity you’re considering has a good reputation. Many people like to look at a charity’s record of spending to ensure that they will use your donation effectively. Even if you see the status mentioned on the group’s website or social media, you can easily confirm its tax-exempt status on the IRS website.īeyond tax status, remember that not all non-profits are created equally. Only the IRS can designate a group as a 501(c)(3) organization. Look for groups that have a longer history and whose information is in either the IRS’s tax-exempt organization database or a national charity database. Check That the Charity Is Legitimateīe sure you’re donating to a legitimate and reputable non-profit. When you donate directly, you can find out exactly how and when the organization will use the donated vehicle. While there are some charities that act as a third party for other non-profits, it’s best to avoid those groups. Instead, they’ll sell it and use the proceeds to fund their programs. Understand, though, that most charities will not ultimately use your car. Some will make direct use of your car, such as a charity which delivers meals to the homeless or needy. Keeping that in mind, a good start may be to look for charities whose causes you find noble (and whose reputations are spotless), and to check their websites to see if they accept car donations. It may be the case that organizations you’re already supporting through more traditional donations also accept vehicles. But these aren’t the only nonprofits to take donations of used cars in fact, a wide range of charities will accept car donations.

#WHICH CHARITY SHOULD I DONATE MY CAR TO TV#

Some charities advertise on TV and radio that they accept car donations.

If the charity intends to use it for charitable purposes – for instance, for delivering meals to seniors – you can, again, deduct the fair market value of the car.īeyond these basic guidelines, the IRS publication has extensive information on determining the fair market value of the vehicle.Īs always, if your tax situation is complicated, consider working with a tax prep service or a financial advisor specializing in tax issues.

If the charity intends to first make improvements to the car, you can deduct the fair market value of the car on the date you donated it.

If the vehicle sells for less than $500, you can deduct either the fair market value of the car (on the day you donated it) or $500 – whichever is smaller.

If the charity sells your car, you can deduct the gross proceeds of the sale.

You can and should review the guidelines on the IRS website, but the general rules are as follows: Your donation cannot exceed 50% of your adjusted gross income.īesides these general guidelines, the IRS has tax rules for how much you can deduct for donating a vehicle. There are also limitations on charitable contribution deductions. Taxpayers can only write off the donation of a car if they itemize deductions. There are general guidelines about charitable donations you should know before donating your car.

Which charity should i donate my car to