1. According to the IRS, donors are responsible for documenting their own deduction(s) and assessing is value.
2. Employees of Goodwill are not able to place a value on any donation, even if the donor requests it.
3. Donors do not receive any goods or services in return for their contributions.  Therefore, their donations are tax deductible.
4. Goodwill is not required to retain a copy of the receipt.  Goodwill is not able to furnish a duplicate receipt after the point of donation.

Property worth $500 or less – This is the case with the majority of donations received at collection sites/stores.  The donor only needs to substantiate the deduction with the receipt provided by the Goodwill.  The receipt includes the donor’s name, address, date, and a list of the items donated.

Property worth more than $500, but not over $5,000 – In addition to the receipt provided by Goodwill, the donor is required to complete IRS form 8283 “Non-Cash Charitable contributions”.  This form will contain written records of how the property was acquired and the donor’s cost basis of the property was held less than 12 months.

Property worth more than $5,000 – A single item valued at $5,000 or more, or several similar items donated in a single year whose value totals $5,000 or more, must be appraised.  The appraisal must be done before the donation is made, and it must be obtained by the donor.  Goodwill does not perform appraisals on any donation.

SUGGESTED VALUE LIST