How Detailed Should I Be When Claiming Tax Deductions For Thrift Store Donations?

Tax preparer here! The level of detail needed depends on the value of what you're donating. For lower-value donations (under $250 per trip), categories like "men's clothing," "women's shoes," "kitchenware," etc. are generally sufficient. You don't need to list every single shirt or cup. For donations valued between $250-$500, you'll need those receipts from the charity with their name, date, and a reasonably detailed description of what you donated. For donations valued between $500-$5,000, you'll need to file Form 8283 along with your tax return and provide more detailed descriptions. If you're donating items worth over $5,000 total (rare for thrift store donations but possible with estates), you'd need a qualified written appraisal in addition to the receipt and Form 8283.

After donating literally hundreds of items from my parents' estate last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a HUGE timesaver. I had a similar situation with a bunch of donation receipts I didn't know how to fill out properly. The software helped me categorize everything correctly and assign reasonable values based on condition. It even flagged items that might need more documentation based on value. Saved me hours of research trying to figure out what was deductible and how to describe it all properly.

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after my skeptical comment and wow, it actually works! Used it to document about 15 bags of my grandma's stuff we donated. The system walked me through exactly what to write on those blank donation slips. It even has specific guidance for estate donations which was perfect for my situation. My aunt was impressed with how organized everything looked, and my tax guy said the documentation was perfect this time. Already seeing a nice bump in my refund compared to last year when I didn't bother with donation deductions.

If you're planning to itemize these donations on your taxes, make sure you can actually get through to the IRS if they have questions! I tried claiming about $2,000 in thrift store donations last year and got a letter asking for more documentation. Spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS to explain what I had. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) after seeing it mentioned here and got connected to an actual IRS agent in under 25 minutes. Check out how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - totally changed my experience dealing with them. The agent walked me through exactly what additional info they needed and I was able to keep my deduction.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it since nothing else was working. Got connected to an IRS representative in about 35 minutes without having to do anything. The agent was able to find my missing refund (it was held up because of a mismatch with my donation documentation, ironically enough). They explained exactly what I needed to submit to get it released. Without actually talking to someone, I would have been waiting months longer. I'm now properly documenting all my donations using more detailed descriptions. Lesson learned!

Something no one's mentioned - take pictures of all the donated items before you drop them off! Line everything up, snap a few clear photos showing all items. I've been doing this for years and it's saved me twice when the IRS questioned my deductions. Photos + receipts = solid documentation.

After my mom passed last year I donated tons of stuff. For clothing I wrote things like "12 women's tops, 8 pants, 4 dresses - good condition" and for household "Kitchen items including pots, utensils, small appliances - fair condition" - that level of detail worked fine for my tax return. Just remember you need to be itemizing deductions for any of this to matter! With the higher standard deduction nowadays ($14,600 for single filers in 2025), many people don't even reach the threshold where itemizing makes sense.

Sorry for your loss, Nolan. Dealing with estate donations can be overwhelming on top of everything else you're going through. Your aunt is smart to push for proper documentation - it really does make a difference come tax time. Based on what others have shared here, you're on the right track with those blank receipts. For most thrift store donations, you can definitely use broader categories rather than listing every single item. I'd suggest something like "Women's clothing - 15 items including blouses, pants, dresses" or "Kitchen items - cookware, utensils, small appliances" along with a condition note (good, fair, etc.). This gives enough detail without making you crazy trying to count every fork and spoon. One thing to consider - make sure your total deductions will actually put you over the standard deduction threshold before you spend too much time on this. With estate cleanouts the amounts can add up quickly, but it's worth doing a rough calculation first to see if itemizing makes sense for your situation. Take care of yourself during this difficult time!

I'm sorry for your loss, Nolan. Going through a loved one's belongings is never easy, and having to think about tax documentation on top of grief can feel overwhelming. Your great aunt is absolutely right to insist on proper receipts - it's one of those things that seems tedious now but will save you headaches later. Based on what others have shared, you're definitely on the right track with the blank receipts you've collected. For most thrift store donations, you can use general categories like "men's clothing - 8 items" or "household linens - various towels and sheets." The key is being reasonably descriptive without going overboard. Think about what someone would need to know to understand what was donated and roughly how much it might be worth. One practical tip: as you're filling out those receipts, try to group similar items together and do rough counts. It's much easier than trying to remember specifics later. And definitely keep everything organized by date - your aunt will appreciate it and so will you come tax time. Take your time with this process and don't let the paperwork add unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. You're doing the right thing by being thorough.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nolan. Clearing out a loved one's home is emotionally exhausting without having to worry about tax paperwork on top of everything else. Your great aunt is absolutely looking out for you by insisting on proper receipts - those deductions can really add up, especially with estate cleanouts. Based on what everyone else has shared, you're already doing great by collecting those blank receipts as you go. For filling them out, I'd recommend keeping it simple but specific enough to be credible. Something like "Women's clothing - 12 items including sweaters, pants, blouses, good condition" or "Household items - kitchen utensils, small appliances, linens, fair to good condition" gives the IRS what they need without driving you crazy with details. One thing that might help: as you're packing up donations, take a quick photo with your phone before loading the car. It doesn't have to be perfect - just something that shows roughly what you're donating. Then when you're filling out the receipt later, you'll have a visual reminder of what was actually in that load. The most important thing is that you're being reasonable and honest about quantities and values. The IRS isn't expecting a museum-quality catalog - they just want to see that you made a good faith effort to document legitimate donations. Take care of yourself during this difficult time. The paperwork can wait when you need a break.

I'm really sorry for your loss, Nolan. Having to deal with estate cleanup while grieving is incredibly difficult, and it sounds like you're handling a lot right now. Your great aunt is definitely looking out for you by pushing for proper documentation - those donation deductions can add up to significant tax savings, especially when you're clearing out an entire household. The good news is that you don't need to overcomplicate this process. Based on what others have shared here, you're already on the right track with those blank receipts. For most thrift store donations, general categories work fine: "Men's clothing - 6 shirts, 3 pairs pants, 2 jackets" or "Kitchenware - pots, dishes, utensils, small appliances." The IRS just wants to see that you made a reasonable effort to describe what was donated and assign fair values. A few practical suggestions that might help: - Group similar items together when packing for donation - Do rough counts as you pack (much easier than trying to remember later) - Note the general condition (good, fair, excellent) - Keep receipts organized by date and location Remember that you'll only benefit from itemizing these donations if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction ($14,600 for single filers in 2025). With estate cleanouts, you might very well reach that threshold, but it's worth doing a rough calculation first. Take this one step at a time, and don't hesitate to take breaks when you need them. You're doing great managing everything during such a difficult period.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Nolan. Dealing with estate donations while grieving is incredibly challenging, and it sounds like your great aunt is really looking out for you by insisting on proper documentation. From what I've learned through my own experience and what others have shared here, you definitely don't need to list every single item individually. Categories like "women's clothing - 8 blouses, 4 skirts, 3 dresses" or "household items - kitchen utensils, small appliances, linens" are perfectly acceptable for the IRS. The key things to include are: - General category and rough count - Brief condition note (good, fair, excellent) - Date of donation - Name of the charity One thing that really helped me when I was in a similar situation was to take a quick photo before loading donations into the car. It doesn't need to be perfect - just enough to jog your memory later when you're filling out the receipt. Makes the whole process much less stressful than trying to remember what was in each load weeks later. Also, make sure to check whether itemizing will actually benefit you before spending too much time on detailed documentation. With the current standard deduction amounts, you'll need significant donations plus other itemizable expenses to make it worthwhile. Take your time with this process and be gentle with yourself. The paperwork will still be there when you're ready to tackle it.