Donating cars can be as simple as calling the non profit organization and they will have the car picked up. You want to be sure you get a letter from the organization that shows they are a qualified 501(c)(3) if you want to declare the donation on your tax return. The recipient charity will follow up with the paperwork that authenticates that an actual transaction for donating cars transpired. But it is up to you, the donor to determine the value of the car and this must be done carefully. You should get to declare a fair market value and you can calculate this figure by using one of the used car buying and selling guides like the Kelley Blue Book. It must be an IRS approved organization verifying that the donor actually did donate a car and thus is entitled to the tax benefits of that car donation.

There is another method for donating cars. And that is to actually deliver your intended car donation to a charity for their use in their work, whether it is a homeless shelter or an outreach program for for the elderly or any other type of activity that the organization engages in, they can use that donated car for their purposes. The donor would again, if the organization is an IRS approved organization, receive the tax benefit for the donation in the amount of fair market value of the car that is being donated.

And of course, there is a third alternative method for donating cars. A potential donor could actually go to a car dealership and purchase a car for a charitable group and turn that new or used car over to them for their purposes and the donor would get the tax benefit again, if the organization is an IRS approved, non profit. So in any of theses ways, donating cars is a creative way for non profits to get somewhat larger amounts of donated goods or money without the donor actually digging into his or her pockets and giving out cash. Donating cars is a win, win situation.

Continue Reading >> Donating Cars.

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Such opportunities can also be a good social outlet for those who don't otherwise get out much or are sick of meeting all the same old people. Volunteerism is one of the best ways for those without a lot of extra money or stuff lying about to donate to charity without breaking the bank. In essence, the thing you are best able to donate is that you have extra of.

Many people have more than plenty of extra stuff, whereas they don't often think of themselves as having any "extra" money. It is on this premise that the Goodwill and Salvation Army (among many others) began taking donations of non-cash goods from the start – creating their now-famous thrift stores. Since the Goodwill organization came up with the idea of taking old cars in the 1960s, it has caught on.

It should be noted that many of the advertisements you see are actually put up by for-profit agents of otherwise legitimate charitable organizations. When you donate to a charity that employs such an organization, you may only donate a fraction of the car's real value to your charity. It is in everyone's best interest that you keep your business with charities as direct as possible, and that means localism, too.

This, of course, isn't good for local causes. Therefore, perhaps the easiest way to make sure the vehicle or goods you donate to charity are actually used for that purpose is to find out, before you donate, just what sort of use they intend to put your old auto. Ideally, this would then be fixed up a bit and donated to a needy individual or family who are in grave need of transportation.

One thing that many ads imploring you to to take just about any vehicle you own (regardless of the shape) and donate to charity, is that there actually is a great need for transportation among the working poor. Often the least expensive rents, or places that don't require first and last month's rent saved up, are often found well outside the metro boundaries. Conversely, many of the manufacturing job and other entry-level work has moved out to where it's cheap to build a "big box" store – namely, the outer ring suburbs or larger cities.

Of course, there are always people in rural communities that can use any good quality car that you can donate to charity Though fewer than half in the US live outside urban areas, that still means several million people are working (and often commuting to) rural America.

That means that the donation of real cars to people who need to drive them is paramount, no matter where you live. Though national services that operate large public campaigns, encouraging people to donate to charity. The problem is, unless your charity is truly local, you don't know what's going to happen to your car or the charity of your choice.

It is your right and duty to check and see where the car is going and to what use. If the organization you organize the pick up and/or sale with is a third-party agent (almost always operated for profit), you may need to keep looking for a charitable organization in your local community that is not focused on selling your vehicle as soon as it's donated to charity.

Though this may require a bit of calling around, there is very likely a local organization that can arrange the gift of a running car to someone who needs it. Counties without large cities often conduct their own pickup and donation service. Your state Attorney General's Office should have a list of charitable organizations registered in the state as well as a list of organizations that are authorized to conduct the necessary filings when your car is donated to charity

Don't forget that the local high school and police departments may also benefit when you decide your car is ready to be donated to charity Call around or look online for IRS registered non-profit organizations (NPOs) if you're not sure who is taking cars in your area.

Continue Reading >> How to Make Sure You Donate to a Charity That Serves Your Local Area.

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Alas, various charities across the US are giving you an opportunity to make that beat-up car useful again via car donation programs. Before you decide to say goodbye to your old ride, here are some tips worth considering to ensure before making that diffucult decision.

Important car donation tips

THE CHARITY RECEIVING THE CAR SHOULD BE DULY REGISTERED WITH THE INTERNAL SERVICES REVENUE

* The nonprofit group you have chooses to donate your car should be eligble, qualified, and 5019(c) charity registered with the IRS. Donating to a non-qualified organization might not result in a tax benefit for the donor. The Internet home of the IRS features Publication 78, which is a list of charities with approved car donation programs. The correct names and locations of the charities can also be found there.

* Well-known charities that have car donation programs include the Red Cross, Easter Seals, MADD, Big Sisters/Big Brothers, the United Way and the American Cancer Society.

CORRECTLY FORMULATE YOUR TAX DEDUCTION

* Donors must first itemize personal tax returns before a car donation is claimed. Those interested in recieving a tax benefit should first itemized deductions that is different from standard deductions.

DETERMINE THE VALUE OF THE CAR THAT WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY

* Several online resources are available to help the donor determine the fair market value of the car being donated. However, the overall condition of the vehicle should be one of the most important considerations when making donations.

* – Vehicles with low value will qualify the donor to the minimum tax benefit of $500. Such transactions do not require much paperwork and are finished immediately.

* – Deductions will be limited to the actual sale price of the donation if a car's fair market value goes over $500. Proceeds from a sold vehicle will directly go to the Activiated Ministries.

* – Cars in good running condition can be used by the charities for their own functions such as delivery of food or transport officials from one place to another.

BE WARY AGAINST HIDDEN COSTS

* Charities with car donation program normally pick up the vehicle for free and should not charge hidden fees.

DETERMINE THE TITLE OF YOUR DONATION PROGRAM

* A car about to be donated should have its title intact. The Motor Vehicle Department can provide duplicate copies of a title if the donor lost the document. However, vehicles that will likely be salvaged or sold for parts can be given away without the title.

DETERMINE IF THE CHARITY ACCEPTS ALL MODELS

* Most car donation charities accept vehicles ranging from motorcycles, cars, motorhomes, RVs, personal watercraft and campers.

FILL UP THE REQUIRED IRS FORM TO CLAIM TAX DEDUCTIONS

* The IRS for 8283 should be filled-up and submitted if the value of the car donation goes over $500.

Continue Reading >> Helpful Tips to Make That Car Donation Count.

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Of course, value to you and I differs a bit when dealing with the IRS. The term "fair market value" led to some speculation in the past until the term was clarified to mean specifically what another party would be willing to pay for your vehicle in the fanr an open marketplace.

For instance, if a car is worth less than $250 you may claim tax deductions without any evidence to back up your claim. Indeed, you could claim several $200 cars had been donated without even supplying evidence of a receipt with your forms, though it should be kept on file with pictures of the car(s) just in case of an audit.

Though such a scenario doesn't effect most people, some people do have access to a steady stream of junk autos. In that case, it is useful to note that your tax deductions for a given year cannot exceed one half your income.

In the case of a vehicle that is worth more than $250 but less than $500, you will need to get a hold of a receipt (and dated) with the charity's name and number on it. This should be kept along with your other receipts for your tax deductions, just in case of an audit someday. Such records should be kept for at least 10 years.

In the case of auto donations, you may claim a tax deduction of up up to $500 or the sale price of the vehicle – whichever is greater. Though, you'll have to back up your tax deduction estimation of $500 with evidence to support that value, such as pictures or an appraisal from a third party.

Of course, hardly anyone has a car worth less than $500 appraised, though this is required of higher value cars. For those vehicles thought to be worth more than $500, though less than $5,000, the charity that you donate to will have to provide you with a Form 8283 with section A filled out. This form will cement your deduction value to the sale price of your car or truck unless it's actually being used by a needy individual or the charitable organization itself.

Herein lies the biggest difference between how one chooses to donate an auto. Since most cars thought to be worth less than $5,000 are sent along to wholesale auction when donated to a third-party agent of your preferred charity, the actual value received for them will be very low compared to what you might get if you took out a classified ad and tried to sell the vehicle yourself.

With a Form 8283 in hand that must be attached to your itemized tax deductions (schedule A on Form 1040), you are then beholden to claim only the amount of money that the charity in question actually received from the sale of your car or truck. On the other hand, if the car is put to actual use, you may claim the full "fair market value."

As such, the charity will send you a form telling you what use they intend to put your vehicle to, as well as the receipt you received when you transferred the title. All these should be kept in your tax records, just in case. Generally, only an approved Form 8283 is attached to tax deduction schedules.

If your vehicle is thought to be worth more than $5,000 at the time of donation, an independent, written appraisal must take place within 60 days of the donation. Again, you don't need to attach it, but will instead receive a Form 8283 with section B filled out. This will include the appraised value and will the amount you can legally take as a tax deduction.

Continue Reading >> Form 8283 and Fairly Determining the Tax Deduction from Your Charitable Auto Donation.

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Consider, for instance, what effect going down a tax bracket can have on your business or corporate tax return. Donation and charitable gift giving is potentially very rewarding, even if it is of cars worth less than $500. If you're in a position to donate several of $500 autos in a given year, you could not only take all those deductions but also, such gift giving could result in your paying a smaller overall tax on your now much smaller income.

Even if you only have one or two vehicles, as many small businesses do, you can still donate that car to a charity that will use that vehicle directly (as opposed to selling it on the wholesale market) and claim the fair market value for your gift. Giving to charity that has use for a vehicle may be used to deliver meals, given to a needy family, or used by your local police department.

In fact, charitable gift giving can represent a large number of organizations that are exempt from taxes according to the IRS. Any NPO goes through some rigorous standards to gain tax exempt status. Of course, you should double check to find out that any NPO that you're considering donating to

Small businesses and the self-employed are the most likely to benefit from tax deductions in general, since they are already in the habit of taking itemized deductions. Also, the presence of other deductions one is able to claim enough on deductions to lower the percentage of tax that they pay, sometimes significantly if many capital investments to your business have occurred in the same year.

As such, when you choose charitable gift giving, you're able to deduct the value of the donated car but also, the amount of the new car or truck you've purchased to replace it. This additional amount of deduction is often enough to make a real difference in the amount of tax owed at the end of the year, even though deductions are made from the business income line.

If you maintain a fleet of vehicles or go through them very quickly, it may be helpful to establish a set of protocols by where you automatically begin whatever replacement procedures you normally use, but also consider facilitating charitable gift giving that is likely to benefit you and the charity in question to the greatest extent.

For small, local businesses, it's often best to find smal, local charities that can actually find real people to drive the cars you've donated rather than a service that simply takes the cars away for wholesale auction. You'll be able to declare a much higher amount – often as much as 10 times higher. Gift giving within your local community also allows you to form valuable partnerships that will allow you to really look good to your potential customers.

There are no regulations on bragging rights, other than those you agree to with the charity in question. Consider the NFL and the United Way as an example of such a mutually beneficial partnership based upon volunteerism as well as charitable gift giving.

The practice of charitable gift giving is not only a good option for people with old clunkers in the yard. The changes that made it more difficult to claim more than $500 in deductions for many individuals make it very easy for small businesses with one or more company vehicles to benefit as fully as possible from charitable gift giving. There are plenty of local charities in most places that can use a vehicle that still runs, even if it does have a bit of wear.

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Regardless of how one gets their information about car donation, charities FAQs have been a matter of public discussion ever since the somewhat shady nature of vehicle donation was made apparent in the early 'aughts. When the General Accounting Office (GAO) issued their groundbreaking report to the US Senate in late 2003 (as a result of public outcry and pressure from states), not even the IRS or Congressional Finance Committees seemed to know the rules and regulations regarding car donation charities.

FAQs have since been adjusted according to the new rules that made it far harder when for-profit companies tried to use legitimate charitable operations to line their own pockets. Now that many of these loopholes have been addressed, your odds of making a charitable automobile donation that you can feel good about are better than ever.

Among the most often asked car donation charities FAQs is how one goes about selecting a good, worthwhile charity. They may contact such a charity immediately, or look up an auto donation service that serves charities they support. The IRS would generally prefer you donate directly to keep potentially obfuscating the amounts actually going to the charities in question.

Of course, the IRS would also like to file the correct paperwork, since even a friendlier IRS still has a slavish devotion to filling out standardized forms. In the case of auto donations greater than $500, a donor is required to file a Form 8283, section A. This can be downloaded from the IRS website and should be signed by both the donor and the charity in question. Many charities will happily supply you with such a form – it is in your best interest to find out if this will be taken care of for you before you sit down to do your taxes at the end of the year.

Another important car donation charities FAQ is that if the donation is worth more than $5,000 (whether the vehicle is to used by the charity or sold), section B of Form 8283 must be filled out and attached to your deductions form. Additionally, you will also need to supply an independent appraisal with your return for such high-end donations. This can be arranged by the charity or yourself. The cost of such an appraisal may or may not be considered part of the donation – check with your CPA to make sure what the current regulations are given your exact circumstances.

When dealing with car donation and charities, FAQs pertaining to how you will go about itemizing your deductions govern how such a donation will actually benefit you and the charity in question. For instance, it is wise to consider the extra effort (or money in the case of paying a professional tax preparer) is involved in switching to itemized deductions. Some people are actually better served buy taking the standardized deduction. You should balance these potential expenses against the actual amount your tax burden will actually be decreased. In most tax brackets, this represents about a third of the value of your car donation. Charities and FAQs pertaining to car donation should clearly point out that deductions are from one's net income rather than the amount of tax owed.

When considering the actual tax benefit of your car donation, charities FAQ usually do a good job of pointing out the limitations of the value you can claim as a deduction, as well as their own status as an IRS sanctioned non-profit organization. In the case of charities that have a limited or dubious mission, you could find your deduction challenged as going to a less-than-charitable organization. Do your own homework and verify the validity of any charity you choose to donate to.

And remember, all the car donation charities FAQs in the world won't protect you if you take an active role in defrauding the federal government. Honesty is the best policy in all dealings with the IRS.

Continue Reading >> Some Car Donation Charities FAQs the IRS Wants You to Know.

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In addition to cash donations, Houston charities accept cars, which can be used to generate funds or as materials for their various programs. The Davis Memorial Foundation initiated the practice of car donations in 1978.

Car donation programs became a new source of funds for charities and help support various humanitarian programs. Some of the well know charities that operate car donation programs include the United Way, the Red Cross, Easter Seals, the Salvation Army and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

The National Automobile Dealers Association and the Kelly Blue Book have guidelines on the Internet to help donors determine the fair value of the vehicle that they will give to charity.

A vehicle categorized as "low value" will qualify the donor the lowest available tax deduction of $500. However, the deduction could go as high as $5,000 if the donated car is sold at a lucrative price in an auction or dealership.

Vehicles that can still perform near its optimum level can be used the by the charities for different operations such as transporting donated goods, elderly or disabled people or as training tools for auto mechanic students.

The following are some Houston charities accepting car donations.

Houston Audubon Society

The Houston Audobon Society is working towards the preservation and appreciation of birds and wildlife habitat. The non profit group is ably financially supported by donations from companies, foundations and individuals.

The organization is able to perform its mission by offering its 3,300 acres of sanctuaries as habitat for wildlife and by also providing education services for young people and adults. The Society continually monitors that condition of birds around the Houston area and is calling for continued support for its programs.

HoustonPBS

HoustonPBS accepts vehicle donations ranging from cars, motorcycles, campers, trucks, boats and other recreational units. The vehicle will be auctioned and earnings will directly go the charity. Cars that have irreparable damage or incomplete parts will not be accepted.

Under the newly implemented tax law, deductions can be equal to the gross proceeds from the sale of the donated car. Donors will receive an authentication letter detailing the gross sale amount within a month of the car's sale.

HoustonPBS does not charge towing fees. The donor will be required to present the following to complete the donation.

- the vehicle's keys

- title of the car

- authorization for the towing of the car

The donor will receive a towing receipt to verify the vehicle's transfer of custody to the HoustonPBS.

American Council of the Blind Car Donation Program

The American Council of the Blind accepts car donations that can include cars, trucks, trailers and boats. Proceeds generated from the donated vehicle will be used the fund the organization's various programs to assists visually-impaired and blind people.

The American Council of the Blind will pick up the car free of charge even if it is in poor running condition. Donors can claim a tax deduction for their contribution.

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Even good charities can let bad companies represent them. This is sometimes the result of someone on the side of the charity not looking to closely into the qualifications of those actually doing the tow work and the paper work involved with selling a vehicle and reporting the proceeds accurately to the charity and yourself. Online car donation almost always uses such services, even if the

On the other hand, the problem may be that the charity hired a service that facilities pick up and delivery with a network of independent contractors. This does, of course, decrease the amount the charity will receive as a percentage of the car's sale price at wholesale auction. However, it does guarantee that you'll be able to call a single number to initiate a donation no matter where you live through online car donation.

Regardless, you want to make sure there's something to guarantee the online car donation service you choose is at least legitimate. For starters, it should say what the charity is that you're donating to. If this isn't readily apparent, a certain amount of this may be bad web design, though this is a common tactic used by companies that are actually illegal according to Federal law.

It is your duty when using online car donation services to check and see not only that they list a charity, but make it possible for you to check up on the non-profit, exempt status with the IRS. Thankfully, you can look up tax ID numbers from the IRS website. Donations made to less than real non-profit organization (NPOs) are not allowable tax deductions and can even result in an audit.

Once you've verified that the NPO in question is real, you may then donate to your hart's content, though the amount of a deduction eventually garnered for the donation will often be less from an online car donation site than you might get from contacting a local charity that can use the vehicle directly.

Another thing you'll want to keep an eye out for is an online car donation that makes you responsible for any charges. Since you're doing the donation, there's no reason why you should have to deal with any sort of fees or charges. Some unscrupulous companies will present donors with a destination charge, though there's not a reason to pay such a charge either, especially if you find out your car is being sold rather than going out of state

Online auto donation has certainly come along way since the early days of dial up bulletin boards. The industry got so large in the early 'aughts that the General Accounting Office felt compelled to investigate the practice. Resultant legislation has taken many of the smaller players out of the industry, though it continues to be lucrative enough.

Regardless, they're not going anywhere, anytime soon. A simple search for "online car donation" in your favorite search engine should return about a million pages of donation opportunities and information on services that can help you get rid of your extra vehicle.

It is good to know that if a tax donation isn't very important to you, there are online car donation services that will take care of the hauling away and paperwork associated with the change of ownership as well as the sales and paperwork associated with the actual donation. Even if your car is running, it will be towed from its current location.

You shouldn't assume you'll get a hefty donation from your online car donation. Often times, the sale price at a wholesale auction are so poor that your charity may not benefit very much at all. Be sure that the charity in question isn't responsible if money is lost on the transaction, especially if you're donating a car that's not in very good shape.

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Sometimes this means that a donated car can actually cost the charity money instead of earning it. When the US General Accounting Office submitted a comprehensive report on donated cars and other vehicles in late 2003, it was found that as many as 5% of the donated cars were actually a liability for the charities concerned.

When asked why they would take such donated cars, most answered that they were more interested in cultivating a culture of donation rather than turning anyone away. Of course, if they handled the donated car themselves, rather than letting a middle-man get a piece of the action, there would almost always be a slight profit, but that's simply not how a majority of charitable organizations that are able to take in your donated car works.

Indeed, it is typically only the charities and non-profit organizations (NPOs) that have a mission of providing automobiles for charitable use who are actually running their own shops to handle donated cars. Also, these outfits tend to be a bit pickier about the sort of donated cars they deal with, as a general rule. Often they preferentially choose to work on donated cars that will have a high resale value when they're running again or need minimal repairs to become useful to a needy family or individual.

Knowing all that, consider what your car is actually worth. Is everything wrong with it at the same time? Can you name a single part on it that's really worth more than $100 (regardless of what you paid for it at the time. Be honest with yourself and fairly assess before you donate. A car that is unlikely to be sold for as much as the tow truck charge isn't any kind of gift at all.

This is especially true if the vehicle in question isn't running and is currently residing in a very rural location. Think about how much it cost the last time you needed a tow truck and take that into your considerations of whether you should donate a car that has minimal scrap or parts value.

On the other hand, if the potentially donated car is quite old and collectible, even if it's in terrible shape, some of the components might be very valuable if they're impossible to find anymore. Look around online and see what some of the parts you know are intact are worth on the open market. You may be surprised how much even a hood ornament in good shape can go for, even if you can see daylight through the floor.

Another thing to take into consideration is how committed you are to donate. Cars that may be problematic to sell as a whole are sometimes able to be parted out and sold for greater value. If you're handy with online auctions as well as mechanics, this might be a great way for you to make the money that you then donate as a cash gift to the charity of your choice. Everyone takes cash, and you're still able to write that off on your taxes assuming you're prepared to file itemized deductions with your Form 1040.

There are always options, even in a donated car is more trouble than it's worth for your favorite charity. In the end, your own personal level of commitment to the well-being of the NPO in question is paramount. If you don't really care that much and just want it hauled away, there are services that will give you rewards such as tickets or vouchers for vacation packages for the privilege of picking up your vehicle for recycling. Even this type of donated car, though not eligible for a tax deduction, is still one less car that will be crushed and sent to a landfill.

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An ageing ride can become useful again by becoming a donation to charity.

Various charities have been taking old cars as donations for years. The donor is given a hassle-free option to dispose his vehicle and also support a worthy cause.

Like other charities in the US, the Salvation Army runs its own car donation program to raise funds for its various humanitarian services. The Davis Memorial Foundation pioneered the practice of car donation in 1978. Car donations during that year only totalled five but this was enough to convince other charities to launch their own similar programs.

Starting an Army

The Salvation Army normally accepts all cars manufactured in 1990 or above and has not been heavily damaged by a serious accident. A car made before 1990 can also serve as a donation if it is still in good running condition. The Salvation Army covers the towing costs for the donated car. Donors that cannot be able present during the time of the pick up should inform the Salvation Army ahead of time. The donor will be given instructions on what to do with the title and keys.

The title is normally required upon donation. A donor who has lost the document can approach the the nearing local office of the Department of Motor Vehicles for a replacement copy. The DMW can give authorization for the donation to proceed if the title cannot be retrieved.

The Salvation Army normally picks up the car three to seven days after making arrangements. Earlier pick-ups can be made if properly requested by the donor. A completed donation will qualify the donor to a tax deduction based on the condition of the car. A "low value" car is equal to a tax benefit of $500 but the deduction could even go over $5,000 if the Salvation Army is able to sell the vehicle at a lucrative price in an auction of dealership.

The Salvation Army normally sells a donated car at an auction and the gross proceeds are used to fund its alcohol and drug rehabilitation projects. Such programs charge nothing to its participants. The government or the United Way do not provide financial aid to the Salvation Army Northern Virginia Adult Rehabilitation Center. The Salvation Army solely depends on the income from donations.

A win-win situation

Participating in the Salvation Army's car donation program is a win-win situation for the donor and charity. By choosing this program, the donor is ensured that his full value of his donation is going to a charity with a long history of helping those in need and attain a good feeling of making a positive impact to society.

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