Donations

Helen247

Is it true that donations of things to charities are tax deductible in USA?
I live in Australia and it's not deductible.

5 months ago

General

10 replies

Latest reply was from Runcarla

cat2

Veteran

Sometimes. The rules are really complicated.

5 months ago

Deb

Veteran

Donations over $2.00 to registered, recognisable charities are definitely tax deductible in Australia. They have been for decades.

5 months ago

April

Veteran

Yes, true in US. Pain in the neck to estimate values and then back up your estimates, though.

I donate A LOT and tend to do one of three things.

1. Put a modest lump sum value on the stuff and hope for the best.

2. Save a receipt if the charity provides an accurate valuation (this is done for big ticket items only).

3. Write it off in my heart as tzedakah.

Guess which one Mr. A likes the least...

5 months ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

April what on earth is tzedakah? My phone very much wants to autocorrect that!
And Deb, yes *money* donations will be tax deductible ( here in NZ they are too but it is $5 not $2), but Helen247 means donations of physical items not just money. Here in NZ those are not deductible.

5 months ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Jenni, literally speaking, tzedakah is charitable giving as part of your religious duty (for observant Jews) but more loosely, it's, you know -- just donation to charity.

I donate clothing but have never even asked for a fair value receipt. Most of my items are simply not worth a lot. But it's something you can do in Canada if it is a registered charity, so I should consider it!

5 months ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you Suz. I had not got around to Googling the term. I have donated to charity for many years but since 2008 it isn’t for any religious reason.
For clothing I can donate to charity shops like hospice shops or the ambulance-service shop, which I try to do. Otherwise it’s the for-profit secondhand clothing store by using the “clothing bin”, as I have purchased good stuff from that chain before I don’t mind their making some money out of my stuff. These days since I choose so much better in the first place and wear the clothes many times before donating, that’s even more the case.

5 months ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

We get tax relief on the value of the sales of donations to charity shops in the UK.

5 months ago

Helen247

Active Member

Thank you everyone, it's certainly interesting to read how we manage our donations.
Yes I donate and don't expect anything in return just hope someone else will enjoy it.
Even good quality things, I have no patience to sell online or in consignment shops.
And yes April, my darling doesn't like it much either. So I take a couple of things in a paper bag when I go for a walk

5 months ago

cat2

Veteran

Fun thread about husbands. Mine wanted me to resell more, so when he was slow at work I gave him a stack of things to send to consignment or post online. Suffice to say he found the consignment operator really rude about what he would take, and it enough of a PIA to handle the online listings, that he never suggested it again.

5 months ago

Runcarla

Veteran

I was provided with a receipt for the appraised value of a good quality piano when I donated it to an assisted living place. Clothing and household items are donated to charity shops with no expectation of a receipt, I’ve never done consignment, but I have run a yard sale! I found it fun, but DH hated the idea - so I suggested he absent himself and go play golf. He was shocked and surprised by how well I did! Made $500 and what was left fit in a shoe box!

In Canada buying items at a charity shop is tax free, but curated thrift and consignment items are taxed.

5 months ago

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