IRS TAX TIP 2008-58

If you donated a car or other vehicle to a qualified charitable organization in 2007 and intend to claim a deduction you should review the special rules that apply to vehicle donations.  You can deduct contributions to a charity only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040.

Generally, the amount you may deduct for a vehicle contribution depends upon what the charity does with the vehicle.  Charities typically sell donated vehicles.  If the vehicle is sold by the charitable organization, the deduction claimed by the donor usually may not exceed the gross proceeds from the sale. 

If your deduction is $250 or more you must obtain written acknowledgement of the donation from the charity.  If your deduction is more than $500, this written acknowledgment or Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes, must be attached to your return. Among other things, the acknowledgment generally must include the gross proceeds of the sale, the vehicle identification number, and a statement certifying the vehicle was sold in an arm's length transaction between unrelated parties.

If the organization intends to make significant intervening use of the vehicle or material improvements to the vehicle, the acknowledgment must include certain certifications. If the organization intends to sell the vehicle to a needy individual at a price significantly below fair market value, or gratuitously transfers the vehicle to a needy individual, the acknowledgment must also include certain certifications.

In addition, for deductions greater than $500, Form 8283, Noncash Charitable
Contributions, must be attached to the return.

You can generally deduct the vehicle’s fair market value instead of the amount of gross proceeds from the sale if any of the following situations apply:

• The organization makes significant intervening use of or materially improves the vehicle
  
• The organization gives or sells the vehicle to a needy individual at a price significantly below fair market value in direct furtherance of its charitable purpose of relieving the poor and distressed or underprivileged who are in need of a means of transportation
  
• The claimed deduction is $500 or less

The fair market value cannot exceed the private party sales price listed in a used vehicle pricing guide.

For more information see Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property, and Publication 4303, A Donor’s Guide to Car Donations, available on IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Remember that for the genuine IRS Web site be sure to use .gov.  Don't be confused by internet sites that end in .com, .net, .org or other designations instead of .gov. The address of the official IRS governmental Web site is www.irs.gov.
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Links:

• Search for Exempt Organizations
• Publication 526, Charitable Contributions (PDF 177K)
• Publication 561, Determining The Value of Donated Property (PDF 101K)
• Publication 4303, A Donor’s Guide to Car Donations (PDF)
• Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions (PDF)
• Instructions for Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions (PDF)