For donations of property such as clothing and household items, be sure to get a receipt from the charity that includes the name of the charity, date of contribution, and a reasonably detailed description of the donated property. You will need to place a fair market value on the donated goods. This valuation is often done by comparing the sale price of similar used items sold at garage sales or on the Internet. If the amount of a taxpayer’s deduction for all non-cash contributions is over $500, a properly completed Form 8283 must be submitted with the tax return.
