In article <g1mrvl$oem$1[at]reader2.panix.com> , Seth <sethb[at]panix.com> wrote:
- quote -


It applies to used clothing and household goods. I would not
classify books as household goods.


But even clothing and household goods in less than good condition
can be deducted for any article i) worth more than $500 and ii) with
an appraisal by a qualified appraiser.
--


ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

--
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In article <W8D_j.2758$co7.165[at]nlpi066.nbdc.sbc.com> ,
Mark Bole <makbo[at]pacbell.net> wrote:

- quote -

Does that apply to all goods? (I've seen some books that are in worse
condition than that yet still worth in the thousands.)

Seth

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On May 26, 12:24 pm, "Paul Thomas" <paulthomas...[at]bellsouth.netwrote:

- quote -

I got the same results when selling my old books to a used bookstore.
But selling on EBay I got about 30 times that! These were academic
textbooks, all of them older editions of books currently in print and
being used in classrooms.

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"sandybeth" <sandyhb6[at]yahoo.com> wrote

- quote -



Website values are not what makes it so. It's a guide, and it may be very
well that the values of your items are worth more - or less - than the
amount listed in any website.





--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
Athens, Georgia

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- quote -

Apparently I hit a sore spot with you, Mark. Sorry. If you reread my
original post, I was merely asking for
a website for a valuation chart so I could (honestly and consistently
and LEGALLY) write down the value of the items I donated.
I'm sure there are many differing opinions on the meaning of charity,
but that wasn't my question.
I was also pointing out that mileage expenses could be a factor in
one's charity choices, particularly with the price of gas now.
(especially in regards to people on fixed incomes). I do think that
the IRS could focus on far bigger fish than the senior citizen who is
volunteering his time, and I do think that the mileage for charitable
work should be somewhat consistent with mileage for business. 14
cents per mile is way out of date. (my opinion).

As far as me "blaming the tax laws", All you have to do is google
"charitable contributions and taxes" and you will find out that the
tax loopholes are indeed plentiful and that tax laws are worthy of
much blame.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/29/...elite-schools/
http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/859656.php?

BTW, I spent 3 days last week on fund raising for Relay for Life. I
also donate regularly to Operation Smile, which I keep receipts for
and claim on my income tax (so I guess that is not charity then?)

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In article <W8D_j.2758$co7.165[at]nlpi066.nbdc.sbc.com> ,
Mark Bole <makbo[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -


Because Bill clinton got all sorts of publiciy for taking charitible
donations for his underwear -- stuff he wouldn't wear any more.


Lots of clothing you wouldn't wear anymore is in less than good condition.



- quote -




Why do you think the $25,000/$32,000 threshold for taxing social security
benefits has never been indexed?



- quote -


Well, Congress has delegated the mileage amounts for business, medical
and moving to te IRS, while keeping charitible mileage for itself.

--


ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

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"Mark Bole" <makbo[at]pacbell.net> wrote
- quote -



And unfortunately it's often for naught.

The number of people who can't itemize is higher than those who can.



- quote -


Unless there's some reason to do otherwise, the cheapest used books I've
seen were 50 cents for paperback and $1 for hardback. So don't take less
than those numbers, at least in these parts.



- quote -


Primarily because the charities have big ol' roll-off dumpsters in back,
often times trashing half of the total goods contributed.

Basically they're tired of handling your trash, and the IRS is tired of you
deducting your trash as charity.



- quote -



Time is the most valued thing to donate. And the most rewarding when you
do.




--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
Athens, Georgia

--
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sandybeth wrote:
- quote -

My personal opinion was about the not-so-legal deduction of over-valued
or otherwise non-deductible, non-cash donations.

Remember that TV commercial from a few months ago, where Turbotax was
touting its database of donation values (the one I mentioned in my first
reply), with the actor indicating that the way to report your non-cash
deductions is, "Click, money! Click, money!" Unfortunately, I think the
approach is all too common.

I just took a box of used books to a large local bookstore last week and
got $10 FMV for them. I know some folks, and suspect there are many
more, who think *any* box of used books is easily worth ten or more
times that amount, it's not.

Look at how non-cash charity is treated for tax purposes. Why do you
think the law was passed in August 2006 to restrict deductions to only
"good used condition or better" items? Why do you think the threshold
for using Form 8283 ($500) has not been indexed for inflation in well
over twenty years? Why do you think the mileage deduction for
charity[1] is less than one-third that for business, and also hasn't
been adjusted upward for inflation lately?

If these tax rules are the determining factor of your level of charity,
then you are the one that my reminder about the meaning of charity is
directed toward. I am confident that you could find ways to volunteer
that require no unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenditure. If you can't
afford the other kinds of charity, you'll get no harsh judgment from me,
but please don't blame it on the tax laws.

BTW, I always advise my clients to take legal deductions, and I have a
good-faith reliance on information provided by the client, but I also
must meet ethical standards that prevent me from signing a return that
appears to be incorrect, inconsistent, or incomplete.

-Mark Bole

[1] Yes I know, charitable mileage is considered a cash donation, but
from the donor's perspective it seems more like a non-cash donation
since it usually goes hand-in-hand with donation of time.

--
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sandybeth wrote:
- quote -

Sandybeth - I have a different take on Mark's reply. There is a problem
with FMV. The IRS is cracking down on the valuation people are using for
donated items. I focused on "consignment shop" value, the value a
willing buyer would pay for such an item as a man's used suit. But when
you look at the published lists of values, they are a fraction of those
numbers. So, removing some of the 'feelings' on this issue, I think
you'd find the financial benefit to be larger by selling those things
that can easily be sold (books, for instance) and donating the proceeds.

Joe

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- quote -

It is interesting to me that you allow your personal opinion on
donations to influence your response to your clients regarding a
perfectly legal tax deduction. Obviously you don't have to worry
about such a small $$ matter yourself, but there are plenty of people
on fixed incomes who need such deductions. Maybe these same people
tithe to their church and give generously, moreso than you maybe. I
give plenty of money away that I CAN'T claim, so when I can claim
something it is beneficial to me. In fact, I would like to volunteer
for Hospice but have to travel 30 miles to do so, and since mileage
cannot be fully deducted, it prevents me from volunteering. Can't
afford the gas. There is an entire workforce of seniors out here that
our society could tap into--we don't want to be paid for our time, but
we can't afford to spend money on volunteering.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

sandybeth wrote:
- quote -

Turbotax has an optional module, I believe Taxcut has something similar,
that purports to be a database of fairly accurate values for used items
based on the condition, style, and use:

"Condition is determined by the amount of noticeable wear and/or defects
an item may have. Items with excessive wear or defects may be worth
little or no value."

"Style is defined by factors such as brand, features, material, size,
fashion, etc. depending on the item."

"Use is defined by how useful the item would be in someone's home or
business today."

They define something as having "high" value under this system if the
following holds (this is the actual wording from the software
documentation):

* Style: Top brands/manufacturers, features, materials, etc.

* Condition: Looks new, no noticeable wear

* Use: Is still useful for the average consumer today

I've always wondered what good simply taking a photo of the donated item
is, after all you could have gone into a store and taken a photo of a
new item on the display floor. Probably better to make sure the photo
includes you and a worker from the charitable organization in the same
frame along with the item, if you're really concerned.

Finally, my personal opinion as both a taxpayer and tax preparer, there
are so many options today for selling used items, from Craigslist to
EBay to used book stores and consignment stores, it'd be better to
disallow non-cash donations that aren't formally appraised or don't have
an easily determined FMV -- let the donee sell the item and donate the
cash, plus take a deduction for the costs of sale, if it's that
important to them. I find myself from time to time reminding clients,
gently, that the meaning of "charity" isn't defined primarily by the
ability to take a tax deduction.

-Mark Bole

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

"sandybeth" <sandyhb6[at]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:24ef6e6c-8bad-4783-b0e8-a769d539cf99[at]m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
- quote -

Photograph the donated items to prove their condition.

The costs of the photographs will be a miscellaneous deduction subject to
the 2% of AGI floor.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

In article <24ef6e6c-8bad-4783-b0e8-a769d539cf99[at]m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com> ,
sandybeth <sandyhb6[at]yahoo.com> wrote:
- quote -


Here is one such guide

http://www.satruck.com/ValueGuide.aspx



Note that all items of used clothing and household goods must
be in good or better condition.


Although any such item in less than good condition that is worth
$500 or more and is accompanied by a qualified appraisal and signed
by a qualified appraiser, on the back of the Form 8283 may be allowed.
--


ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

I will be donating clothing, coats, housewares & some furniture to
either Salvation Army or Goodwill soon & will be getting a receipt.
Is there a website with a valuation guide list for items donated? For
example, what could I claim for a man's jacket in good condition? I
want to be sure to keep accurate records now since the IRS is getting
more strict on charitable contribution documentation.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >