If spring cleaning has left you with items that you want to donate to charity, remember that donations of used clothing and household items must generally meet certain requirements to be tax-deductible. First, such items must be in “good used condition or better.” Second, a receipt from the charity is required. If a receipt is not available (such as at unattended drop-off locations), reliable written records are still required.
It is always a good idea to take photos of items donated for your records. Purging is a great spring activity to clear the clutter from your home, storage areas and closets. It is an easy tax deduction you should take advantage of. There are many websites that will guide you on the value of what you donate. It is rarely worth what you think it is, so be careful when you assess the value of what you donate and be aware that any non-cash donations of $5,000 or more require an appraisal to be deductible.
