HOW TO VALUE

Donations of clothing, household items, automobiles and other goods to Goodwill are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. When you deliver your donation to a store or attended donation center, please ask the donation clerk for a receipt of your items that you can keep for tax purposes.

When you file your taxes, you will have to complete IRS Form 8283 to itemize your deductions for clothing and household item donations and attach it to your tax return. You can download the form here. For information on vehicle donation tax deductions, click here.

Per IRS publication 561, all not-for-profit organizations are prohibited from assigning values or estimates to donated items, so Goodwill always recommends that you consult a tax adviser first. In general, the amount you can deduct is based on the fair market value of the donated items.

If you believe your donations are worth more than $500, the IRS requires you to submit an independent appraisal with your itemized tax return. Appraisals should be done before items are donated, and payment of the appraisal is the responsibility of the donor.