How much can I write off with Goodwill Donations on my 2025 taxes?

The good news is you can absolutely deduct Goodwill donations, but there are some important things to know: First, you'll need to itemize deductions on Schedule A rather than taking the standard deduction. This only makes sense if your total itemized deductions (including mortgage interest, state taxes, medical expenses over 7.5% of AGI, and charitable contributions combined) exceed your standard deduction. For the donations themselves, you'll need to determine the "fair market value" of each item - basically what someone would pay for it in its current condition, not what you paid originally. Goodwill has a donation value guide on their website that can help with this. Keep detailed records of what you donated, when, and estimated values. If your total non-cash donations exceed $500, you'll need to fill out Form 8283. For donations over $5,000, you typically need an appraisal (though your $2,300 is below this threshold). Make sure to get and keep that receipt from Goodwill! Even though they don't value the items, the receipt proves you made the donation.

After struggling with this exact issue last year, I found a game-changing solution with https://taxr.ai - it literally saved me hours of frustration trying to figure out fair market values for my Goodwill donations. I uploaded photos of everything I was donating, and the AI analyzed them to suggest appropriate values based on condition. It even flagged items that might raise audit concerns if I valued them too high. The best part was that it organized everything into a detailed donation summary that I could attach to my tax return, showing each item, its condition, and fair market value. When I compared what I was planning to claim versus what the tool suggested, I realized I was actually undervaluing some items and potentially missing out on legitimate deductions.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with https://taxr.ai after I decided to try it for my donations last month. I was definitely skeptical at first (as you could probably tell from my question), but I'm genuinely impressed with how well it worked. I donated about $1,750 worth of household items and clothes to several different charities, and using the tool to document everything took maybe 20 minutes total. The values it suggested seemed very reasonable - not too aggressive but not leaving money on the table either. It even flagged a designer jacket that I was about to value at $25 but was actually worth closer to $60 in its condition. The documentation it produced looks really professional - I showed it to my brother who's been through an audit before, and he said it's exactly the kind of substantiation you want to have. Definitely going to use this for all my donations going forward.

If you're trying to deduct Goodwill donations, you should know that getting through to the IRS with questions is nearly impossible these days. I spent WEEKS trying to get clarification on donation valuation rules last year. After multiple failed attempts (literally hours on hold), I found https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent answered all my questions about donation documentation requirements and confirmed that I could use online valuation guides as long as I adjusted for the actual condition of my items. She also clarified exactly what the receipt from Goodwill needed to include (date, charity name, description of donated items). It was seriously worth using their service just to get definitive answers straight from the IRS instead of relying on potentially outdated or incorrect information online.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I had a complicated question about how to document some antique furniture I donated. I was absolutely convinced it wouldn't work, but figured I'd give it a shot since I had already wasted 2 hours trying to get through on my own. The service actually connected me to a real IRS agent in about 30 minutes (my case was a bit complex so it took longer than usual). The agent walked me through exactly how to document high-value donations, explained when I would need an appraisal, and gave me specific guidance on Form 8283. I'm still shocked at how well it worked. Just wanted to update since my previous comment was pretty harsh. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing!

Don't forget that you can also deduct mileage for driving to make donations! It's currently 14 cents per mile for charitable driving. I track all the trips I make to Goodwill throughout the year and it adds up!

Has anyone used tax software to handle Goodwill donations? I'm wondering if TurboTax or H&R Block makes this easier or if I should just go to an accountant this year. I've got like 20 big boxes of stuff to donate.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of taking photos of your donated items before you drop them off. I learned this the hard way when I got audited a few years back. The IRS auditor was very interested in my $1,800 in Goodwill donations and asked for documentation beyond just the receipt. Having photos of the items in their donated condition really helped support my fair market value claims. I could show that the "gently used" sweater I valued at $8 actually looked nearly new, while the older kitchen appliances I claimed at lower values were clearly showing wear. Now I make it a routine - before I load everything in the car, I lay it all out and take a few photos with my phone. I also write a quick inventory list with my estimated values before I go, so there's a clear record of my thought process. Takes maybe 10 extra minutes but gives you solid backup documentation if you ever need it. For $2,300 worth of donations, this kind of documentation could really save you headaches down the road!

Great question! I've been dealing with donation deductions for years and here are the key things to remember: You're absolutely right that Goodwill receipts don't include valuations - that's your responsibility. The IRS requires you to determine "fair market value" which is what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller for the item in its current condition. For your $2,300 estimate, you'll want to break it down item by item. Check out the Salvation Army or Goodwill valuation guides online - they're IRS-approved reference points. A typical men's dress shirt might be $4-12, women's blouses $3-8, household items vary widely based on condition. Since you're over $500 in non-cash donations, you'll need to file Form 8283 with your return. Keep detailed records: date of donation, charity name, description of each item, condition, and your fair market value determination. One tip: be conservative but fair in your valuations. The IRS looks for reasonableness, not perfection. Document your reasoning - "gently used" vs "good condition" vs "fair condition" makes a difference in valuation. Also remember this only helps if you itemize deductions and your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction ($14,600 for single filers in 2025).

One thing that really helped me with my Goodwill donations was setting up a simple system throughout the year rather than trying to figure everything out at tax time. I keep a donation box in my closet and whenever I put something in it, I immediately jot down the item and a rough estimate of its value on a sticky note that I attach to the item. When donation day comes, I have everything pre-valued and just need to take photos (as Cass mentioned - super important!), make my final list, and get the receipt. This approach has saved me so much stress during tax season. For your $2,300 worth of items, I'd recommend being very detailed with your documentation. Create a spreadsheet with columns for item description, condition (excellent/good/fair), fair market value, and notes about how you determined that value. Since you're getting close to higher documentation requirements, having this level of detail will make you feel much more confident if you ever get questioned about it. Also, don't forget that if you make multiple trips to Goodwill throughout the year, each trip counts toward that mileage deduction Anastasia mentioned. Those 14 cents per mile can add up when you're making several donation runs!

This is such a comprehensive thread! I'm in a similar situation with about $1,800 worth of items I'm planning to donate before year-end. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. One question I haven't seen addressed: if I donate items that I originally bought at different times throughout the years, do I need to worry about when I purchased them for tax purposes? For example, I have a barely-worn coat I bought 6 months ago for $150 that I'm planning to donate - would I value this differently than a similar coat I've owned for 3 years? Also, I'm seeing conflicting advice online about whether you need to itemize donations separately by charity if you donate to multiple organizations in the same year. I typically donate to both Goodwill and our local homeless shelter. Do I need separate documentation for each, or can I combine them as long as I have receipts from both? The advice about taking photos and creating detailed spreadsheets is definitely something I'm going to implement. It sounds like the key is having reasonable valuations backed up by solid documentation - which frankly makes me feel much more confident about claiming these deductions properly.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's donated to Goodwill before but never really maximized the tax benefits, I'm definitely going to implement several of these strategies for my upcoming donations. One thing I'm curious about - for those of you who've been through audits or have extensive donation experience: how detailed do your item descriptions need to be on your records? For example, is "men's dress shirt, blue, good condition" sufficient, or should I be noting brand names, specific defects, fabric types, etc.? I'm also wondering about seasonal timing. I know donations need to be made by December 31st to count for the current tax year, but is there any advantage to spreading donations throughout the year versus doing them all at once? I've got about $2,000 worth of items ready to go, and I'm trying to decide whether to make multiple trips or just load everything up for one big donation run. The advice about taking photos and using tools like the donation valuation guides is exactly what I needed to hear. It's clear that good documentation is key, and frankly, having that backup would make me much more confident about claiming these deductions properly.

This has been such an informative thread! I'm a newcomer to the community but have been dealing with donation deductions for a few years now. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of understanding the difference between "fair market value" and "thrift store value." When I first started claiming donation deductions, I made the mistake of using the prices I saw items selling for AT Goodwill as my fair market value. But that's actually incorrect - Goodwill's retail prices are typically higher than fair market value because they're a retail operation with overhead costs. Fair market value is what you could reasonably expect to get if you sold the item yourself - like at a garage sale or to another individual. This is usually lower than thrift store retail prices but higher than what you might get at a consignment shop that takes a commission. The IRS publication 561 has great guidance on this, and it specifically mentions that you should consider what similar items sell for in similar venues and conditions. For your $2,300 worth of items, this distinction could make a meaningful difference in your total deduction - and more importantly, it keeps you on the right side of IRS guidelines. Great job on all the documentation advice everyone has shared. Having proper records really is the key to confidence during tax season!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through this incredibly helpful thread about Goodwill donations and wanted to share my perspective as someone who just went through this process for the first time last year. I had about $1,900 worth of donations and was completely overwhelmed by all the documentation requirements. What really helped me was creating a simple three-step process: First, I used the Salvation Army valuation guide as my baseline (it's very conservative and IRS-approved). Then I adjusted values based on actual condition - if something was in better shape than "average," I'd bump it up slightly; if worse, I'd reduce it. Finally, I took photos of everything laid out before loading the car, just like several people mentioned here. The key insight for me was realizing that the IRS isn't looking for perfection in your valuations - they want to see that you made a reasonable, good-faith effort to determine fair market value. Having that documentation trail (photos, detailed list with reasoning, charity receipt) gave me complete confidence when filing. One small tip that saved me time: I used my phone's voice memo feature while going through items to quickly record descriptions and values, then transcribed it later. Much faster than writing everything down by hand when you're dealing with dozens of items! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these tax questions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by how comprehensive and helpful this discussion has been! I'm planning to donate about $2,100 worth of items to Goodwill before the end of the year and was feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the documentation requirements until I read through everyone's experiences. A few key takeaways that really stood out to me: 1. The importance of taking photos before donating - this seems like such a simple but crucial step that I definitely wouldn't have thought of on my own. 2. Understanding that fair market value is what you'd get in a garage sale situation, not what thrift stores charge retail customers. That distinction could really impact my valuations. 3. The systematic approaches several of you have shared - from using voice memos for quick documentation to setting up year-round tracking systems. I do have one question that I don't think was fully addressed: when you're dealing with items that have minor damage or wear (like a small stain on a shirt or a scratch on furniture), how much does that typically impact the fair market value? Should I be reducing values significantly for minor flaws, or just noting the condition and making small adjustments? Also, for someone doing this for the first time with over $2,000 in donations, would you recommend spreading it across multiple organizations to reduce the per-organization amounts, or does it not really matter as long as I have proper documentation for everything? Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this thread has been incredibly valuable!

As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed advice shared here! I'm in a similar situation with about $1,800 worth of items I'm planning to donate to Goodwill before year-end, and this thread has been incredibly educational. One thing I wanted to add based on my research is the importance of understanding the timing requirements. Since you mentioned wanting to get this done "before the end of the year," just make sure your donations are physically delivered and you have the receipt dated by December 31st, 2025. I learned that just dropping items off at an unstaffed donation center after hours doesn't count unless you can prove the date - you need that official receipt from when the center was open. The systematic approach everyone has outlined here is so helpful. I'm definitely going to implement the photo documentation strategy and use the Salvation Army valuation guide as my baseline. The voice memo tip for quick documentation while sorting through items is brilliant too! For your $2,300 worth of donations, it sounds like you're well-prepared with the receipt requirement and understanding about fair market value. Just make sure to give yourself enough time before December 31st to properly document everything - rushing through this process seems like where people make mistakes that could cause problems later. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world advice!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how thorough and helpful this discussion has been! I'm facing a similar situation with around $2,000 worth of items I'm planning to donate to Goodwill, and reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence about approaching this properly. The systematic approaches shared here are incredibly valuable - especially the photo documentation strategy and using established valuation guides as baselines. I had no idea about the mileage deduction for donation trips or the importance of distinguishing between fair market value and thrift store retail prices. One question I have for those with experience: when you're documenting items with original purchase receipts still available (like that barely-worn coat example mentioned earlier), is there any benefit to keeping those receipts as additional documentation? Or does the IRS only care about the fair market value at time of donation regardless of what you originally paid? Also, I'm curious about the practical aspects of the photo documentation. Are you taking individual photos of each item, or group photos organized by category? With dozens of items to document, I want to make sure I'm being thorough without making the process unnecessarily complicated. Thank you to everyone who's shared their real-world experiences - this community is an incredible resource for navigating these tax questions properly!