Take a Tax Break for Decluttering
Mind these tax rules when cleaning out your home and donating to charity.

Cleaning out your home or garage can be a boon to charities, but noncash donations come with their own set of rules. The IRS expects you to use the fair market value of your donation to determine your deduction. Tools such as TurboTax’s ItsDeductible can help give you an idea of an item’s fair value and can track your donations throughout the year. For anything worth more than $500, you’re required to provide a written description on Form 8283. For anything more than $5,000, you need an appraisal, but you can deduct the cost of getting one.
Donating a car is tricky because the deduction is limited to what the charity sells it for. Bob Meighan, lead CPA at the American Tax & Financial Center at Turbo Tax, says charities can often be in a hurry to sell and may accept a lowball price, which lowers your deduction. You’re more likely to secure a higher price by selling the vehicle yourself and then donating the money.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

-
Ten Cheapest Places to Live in Texas
Property Tax Looking for a cheap place to live in Texas? Look no further. These counties have the lowest property tax bills in the Lone Star State.
-
AI Is Missing the Wisdom of Older Adults: What It Means for You
AI will increasingly affect your healthcare and finances, but young workers are primarily designing the systems and getting most of the jobs.
-
Homeschoolers: 529 Plan Savings Could Soon Work for You
Savings Accounts A new House GOP bill could change how you save for your child's homeschool education. Find out how.
-
Ohio Announces Two-Week Sales Tax Holiday Amid Tariffs, High Prices
State Tax Ohioans won't want to miss out on savings as pressure from tariffs spikes prices.
-
Five ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Tax Changes to Watch in the Senate
Tax Policy The House passed its version of Trump’s "One Big, Beautiful Bill." Here’s what to look for as Senate Republicans take up the mega legislation.
-
New GOP Car Loan Tax Deduction: Which Vehicles and Buyers Qualify
Tax Breaks To fulfill Trump's campaign promise, House GOP lawmakers want to offer a tax deduction for car loan interest. How would it work?
-
Big GOP Tax Bill Could Change Your Estate Planning for 2025
Tax Law The GOP might extend and increase the higher estate and gift tax exemption and AMT thresholds. What might this mean for your estate plan?
-
New 'No Tax on Tips' Bill Approved: What to Know Now
Income Taxes Will you stop paying taxes on your tip income this year?
-
Millions Could Lose SNAP Food Benefits Under Trump Tax Cut Plan
Tax Policy The House Agriculture Committee approved nearly $300 billion in cuts to SNAP benefits, putting many at risk of hunger.
-
Missouri Leads Capital Gains Tax Repeal: Will Your State Follow?
State Tax As one state becomes a test case, policymakers and taxpayers across the U.S. will be watching closely to see what happens next.