? Using the Internet to Donate a Car to Charity
It seems as if you can do just about anything from the comfort of your own networked computer – it turns out, you can donate your car to charity while in your pajamas, too. However, depending upon what sort of tax break you expect, the deduction you may take from your car is severely limited by the way your vehicle is ultimately used after donation. Like anything online, it’s best to remain skeptical of anything that sounds too good to be true when you donate a car to charity.
Since 2005, donated cars to charity have been subject to stricter regulations with regards to the amount you’re allowed to deduct from your taxes. However, to read some of the online ads for car donation, you’d think nothing had changed. Anytime you donate a car to charity online, there are now very few situations where you’re able to claim the full “fair market value” as a deduction.
Indeed, it can be difficult to know where to look to find high deductible options. One place to start is in your local area. Only charities and third-party agents of those charities who are dealing locally are liable to want your car as a drivable thing. When donated, a car to charity that still runs is almost always in best used when someone who will actually be able to drive it is the ultimate recipient of your gift. In that case, since no actual sale has been made, you’re able to claim that fair price that you’d ask for if you were selling it yourself.
Of course, if you just want to get rid of the hulk in your yard, you may want to donate the car to charity in whatever manner is easiest. Often this takes the form of a scrap-for-cash sort of operation. There are are plenty of online resources to choose from if you don’t care about the deduction amount, many of whom make some wild claims about deduction.
Never mind that, and just get that thing out of the yard. There should be no charge for towing, and the company you choose to donate a car to charity through should have no problem coming out to wherever you are. As long as the title is free and clear, you can often see your old junker towed away within a day or two of signing up. It is often a good idea to take the license plates off when you donate a car to charity (if allowed in your state), to make sure you don’t accidentally become liable for someone else’s bad driving.
Sometimes, rather than donate the car to charity, you may want to consider recycling options. The very same companies may offer a service by where you’re not offered any tax or social benefit, but may instead trade your auto for hotel vouchers or small vacation packages. If the requirement that your donated car goes to charity isn’t high on your list, this might prove a more agreeable option.
It is also useful to note that a tax deduction not only requires you to file itemized deductions (rather than taking the standard deduction), but, depending upon the value of your vehicle, there may also be further “flaming hoops” to jump through. For instance, though many who donate a car to charity are able to legally claim significant deductions from the process, if there aren’t any other deductions you can claim that year, you may actually end up paying more on your taxes unless careful.
If you are planning on donating your car locally, the online component of your journey to donate a car to charity is just that required to get the ball rolling. You may very well find yourself calling around a bit to find the right charity that can actually use it. This may be difficult or impossible if your vehicle is is terrible, non-running condition.
Consider what options are legitimately open to you. This will give you an idea of how to pursue online links when you donate a car to charity.
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