Do I need Form 8283 for non-cash charitable donations under $500 each? (Moving/downsizing situation)

You're in luck! You don't need to file Form 8283 in your situation. Form 8283 is only required when a single donated item (or group of similar items) exceeds $500 in value. Since you mentioned all your individual items are under $500, you don't need to complete this form. However, you should still keep good records of your donations. For items valued under $250, you'll want receipts from the charity. For items between $250-$500, you need written acknowledgment from the charity that includes a description of what was donated and whether you received any goods or services in return. When you file, you'll just include the total non-cash contribution amount on Schedule A where you claim your itemized deductions. No need for the separate 8283 form.

After spending hours trying to figure out this exact situation last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which totally saved me from making mistakes on my donation paperwork. I also downsized and had tons of household items to document. The tool analyzed my donation receipts and automatically categorized everything correctly - even figured out which items needed to be grouped together and which could be listed separately. It actually determined I didn't need Form 8283 for most items but did need it for my furniture collection. Would have completely missed that without help! They also gave me proper documentation guidance when I uploaded my vague charity receipts. Turns out I needed better documentation than what Goodwill initially provided.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. I was moving out of state and donated about 40% of my stuff - was totally overwhelmed with documenting everything properly. I tried the service and it was surprisingly helpful! Uploaded my donation receipts (which were super vague) and it helped me properly categorize everything. The best part was it actually calculated reasonable fair market values based on condition and item type. Saved me from both undervaluing my donations and also from claiming amounts that might trigger an audit. For the Form 8283 question specifically - it clearly showed which items needed to be reported on the form and which didn't. Turns out I had a few "collections" that needed to be grouped together that I wouldn't have realized.

If you're still struggling with the donation documentation, another thing that helped me was using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get through to an IRS agent to ask specific questions about my donation situation. I had called the IRS like 6 times and kept getting disconnected, then found this service. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had a very similar situation last year - donated tons of household items after downsizing. The IRS agent I spoke with clarified exactly what documentation I needed and confirmed I didn't need Form 8283 since none of my items or "similar groups" exceeded $500. Totally worth it since I was about to unnecessarily fill out a bunch of complex paperwork.

I need to apologize for my skepticism earlier. After struggling to reach the IRS for DAYS about some questions on my donation documentation (ironically similar to this post), I broke down and tried Claimyr. Honestly, it worked exactly as advertised. I got connected to an actual IRS representative within about 20 minutes of submitting my request. The agent confirmed I didn't need Form 8283 since none of my individual items exceeded $500, but she did recommend I keep detailed descriptions of everything I donated along with estimated values and condition. The most valuable advice she gave was to take photos of significant donations before dropping them off, which I hadn't thought about doing. Apparently this can be helpful documentation if you're ever questioned about the donations.

One thing nobody's mentioned is that when you donate items to charity, the amount you can deduct is the fair market value (FMV) at the time of the donation, not what you originally paid. For most household items, the FMV is WAY less than what you paid. There are apps and websites that can help you estimate FMV for common household items. Salvation Army and Goodwill both have valuation guides online that give ranges for different types of items based on condition. I used these when I donated a bunch of stuff last year and it was super helpful.

Just be careful not to overvalue your donations! The IRS has been cracking down on this. My friend got audited last year because he claimed $2500 for donated furniture that was probably worth half that. They made him provide photos and receipts of the original purchases, which he didn't have.

Slightly off topic but if you donated working electronics, make sure you get a receipt that specifically mentions them! I donated a working TV, laptop and tablet when I downsized (all together probably worth $300-400) and didn't realize that electronics need to be specifically listed on donation receipts. Had to go back to the donation center and get an updated receipt. What a hassle!

Great question! I went through something similar when I moved last year. Based on what you've described, you're correct that you don't need Form 8283 since no individual item exceeds $500. However, I'd recommend double-checking how you're categorizing your donations. The key thing to watch out for is "similar items" - if you donated multiple pieces that would naturally be considered a set (like a dining table with matching chairs, or a complete bedroom set), the IRS might consider those as one donation. If any of these grouped items total over $500, you'd need Form 8283. For your documentation, those basic Goodwill receipts might not be sufficient for items over $250. You'll want written acknowledgment from the charity that describes what was donated and confirms you received no goods or services in return. I'd suggest contacting them for more detailed receipts for your higher-value items. Also, make sure you're using fair market value (what the items would sell for in their current condition) rather than what you originally paid. Most household items depreciate significantly, so your actual deductible amount might be lower than you think. Keep detailed records of everything - descriptions, estimated values, condition, and photos if you have them. This will be invaluable if you ever get questioned about your donations.