Donate Your Car and Get a Tax Reduction

By Mary Jones


The people of the United States are now increasingly opting for the practice of car donation of unused, superfluous, or junk vehicles to charity, so that they could avail the benefit of tax reduction. This has, in fact, helped the charitable organizations like the Red Cross, Purple Heart, and Goodwill, to name a few, to a great extent. However, the critics wonder if this is not just a way of reducing tax, and the motivation is far from that of an act of charity.

The unfettered period of tax deduction came to an end in early 2005, with the introduction of the American Jobs Creations Act of 2004. Through this Act, a strict control was imposed on car donations in Maryland by relating the tax deduction to the charity sale proceeds. Further this act was eligible only to the residents of the United States.

More restrictions were placed on the donor with regard to car donation. He had to make sure that the vehicle, irrespective of whether it was a car or a motorcycle, should have been certified as road worthy. The vehicle also needed to be whole and intact, and should not have been removed from a vehicle sales showroom. Only charities that hold the license under 501(C) (3) or were included in the list published by the IRS in 1978 could accept such donations and provide the donor with the advantage of tax deduction.

The eligibility of religious organizations to accept a car donation in Maryland must be verified with the list of Eligible recipients. Otherwise, your tax deduction claim on the car donation in Maryland could be rejected. Asking for and obtaining proof of the sale of your car by the philanthropic organization and shunning the standard deductions to itemize under Schedule A, Form 1040, are considered sensible steps.

Notwithstanding of the sale proceeds of the vehicle obtained by the charity, any deduction of less than $500 for a car donation in Maryland will need only the donor's estimate. However, when the value exceeds $500, the sale proceeds accruing from, preferably an auction, is accepted by the IRS, if the tax return is accompanied by a written receipt from the charity.

In a car donation in Maryland, The donor has the added advantage of considering the sale proceeds as the market value, without the liability of depreciation and repair costs if any, in the event the charity resells it a lesser price, or decides to use the vehicle for its own use.

Many of these charities, who do not have the experience or the administrative setup to handle such car donations in Maryland, opt for the services of auction companies to work for them, at a fee. However, it would be ideal if both the donor and the recipient keep an eye on the actual amount that these service companies propose to deduct for their services, since some unscrupulous agents have been known to charge even up to 90% for a transaction.

When you are ready for a car donation in Maryland, you should propose to a charity organization, along with the details of the vehicle, including its status of being drivable or a junk. If the recipient sends you the acceptance, forward the car ownership papers to them forthwith, and await their inspection and collection of the vehicle. Since American states have diverse Department of Motor Vehicles rules and formalities to be completed, it would be wise to check them out before you decide to transfer the title deed of the vehicle.

After a tax gain auction, the patron will have to obtain a receipt. It can be a hard copy, or it can be an electronic one, and if the value exceeds $ 500, you can get it in the IRS Form 1098-C. You can expect the highest settlement, if you can select a recipient charity that wants to use it for their own needs, or intend to pass it on to a poor and genuinely deserving candidate. They must be ready to support you with all the papers.




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