Car Donation - The Benefits and Why You Should Do It

Why on earth would someone want to donate a car? You might ask this question, but there are many reasons, including tax benefits, being charitable or saving time. Perhaps your vehicle isn't worth much to you, but having it sold for charity is worth a lot to them.

The IRS will give a tax refund of 0 or the sale value of the car if you decide to donate it. You fill out a car donation form and you can allocate your charity from a list of eligible organizations that you want the sale to benefit. You will receive a receipt that qualifies you for the IRS tax rebate, so there is a guaranteed 0 for your car, possibly more. There will be no hassles, no running ads in the newspaper and having people come over to test drive the vehicle and no worries about trying to barter the price or having to pay for last minute repairs.

CAR DONATION

Most charities will choose to sell the donated vehicle, in which case you can deduct the amount they receive for it. If they decide to use the vehicle for a purpose within the charity, you will be able to claim the fair and average market value at the time you donated the car. They will take into account the current condition of the car and how much you could get if you sold it. That means if there is damage or if it needs repairs, it will be deducted from the value for your car donation tax rebate.

If the vehicle sells for or is worth more than five thousand dollars, you need to fill out an 8283 and 1040 form, plus have an official written valuation, and your form needs to be authorized at the highest levels. If the value or sale price is between 0 and 00, you would fill in the 8283 form and the standard 1040 that is for all vehicle donations, but you do not need the written appraisal. For cars worth under 0 or sold for that amount you would fill in a 1040 only, along with a written acknowledgment from the charity as to the sale or the use of the vehicle.

Donating a car to a charity car yard can be a lot easier. Simply choosing the charity and leaving the car with them to sell saves you possible hassle. If they need to do any repairs, it will be deducted from you tax rebate and added to the sale price. This means you can't profit from sending in a broke down vehicle in bad need of repair expecting to deduct the full sale value once it has been fixed.

This can be a great option if you are short on cash and want to sell your car but need a couple of repairs. Be upfront with the charity car dealer and let them know the problems. Tell them you are happy for them to deduct the costs of fixing the problems from your tax rebate, and they will appreciate your honesty. Charity car dealers will often have all the paperwork you need to apply for your car donation tax benefit on site.

It's not all about the tax benefits though. Donating your car is a rewarding and charitable thing to do. The money raised, sometimes thousands, is donated to your charity of choice, whether directly from you or through a charity car dealership. That is a lot of meals or clothes or money towards research or whatever the charity of your choice contributes to. Not all charities do fall under the qualification for the tax rebate, but most do and the lists are available from the IRS website or the charity dealerships.

Next time you are considering selling your vehicle, think about a charity donation. If you do donate your car, there are definite benefits for the organization of your choosing and yourself at tax time. You may even decide to do it close to the end of the financial year so it doesn't take too long for you to see the refund! Alternatively the money can come off your tax debt! It is like having an easy sale for your car but just receiving the money for it a while later.

But instead of grinding the figures and crunching the numbers, why not make the decision from your heart? You will get some reimbursement, less hassle, and be doing a very good deed for those in need. Be spontaneous and giving, and next time you are changing over vehicle, donate your used car to an eligible charity of your choice.

Car Donation - The Benefits and Why You Should Do It

Napoleon Hill

CAR DONATION

Car Donation - 4 Important Points You Should Take Note Of

In today's society, it is almost imperative that people have a car in order to get to work, school, the market, doctor's appointments and other places. There are few places where it is safe or even viable to travel without a car. Sadly, some people are unable to afford a vehicle for a variety of reasons. There are several charities that help these people get cars.

This means that there are people who donate cars to these charities. But what is the reason behind car donations? For some it is the act of giving back, of helping others. For many it is because of the tax benefit for which they may qualify. When considering to donate your car, there are four things that you must do:

CAR DONATION

(1) Research your chosen charity

If you choose to claim a deduction for your car donation to a charity you need to make sure that the charity is a qualified organization as defined by the IRS. A qualified charity is a section 501 (c) (3) organization. This includes charitable, religious or educational organizations. The IRS has Publication 78, "Cumulative List of Organizations" that lists most charities and is updated annually. Not all charities are listed, though, such as churches, temples and synagogues, but if you want to verify the status of a charity that is not on the list, you can contact the IRS for information.

(2) Check to see if you will get a tax benefit

The only way that you can qualify for a charitable deduction is if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040. There are some limitations on this type of deduction. One such limitation is that the deduction can not be more than 50% of your adjusted gross income. There are publications from the IRS that explain all of the rules and restrictions that are involved in donating a vehicle.

(3) Know the value of your car

You should know the fair market value of your vehicle because that is the maximum amount that you can claim as a deduction. Fair market value should not be confused with blue book value, they can be miles apart. The fair market value is the price that a willing buyer would pay and a willing seller would accept for the vehicle. This is when neither party is compelled to sell or to buy and both parties know the relevant facts (condition of car, mileage, etc).

(4) Find out what responsibilities you have as a donor

In most cases, all that you are required to do is transfer the title and notify the state department of motor vehicles by updating the car registration to the donor. In some states, there are other requirements, so you need to check the laws of your state.

Car donation can be a great way to give back to your community, but it can also be a good tax deduction. However, you should check with the laws of your state and with the IRS to make sure that you are following all of the regulations to the letter. You can access the IRS website and download any of their publications as well as find further information on car donation.

Car Donation - 4 Important Points You Should Take Note Of

Napoleon Hill

CAR DONATION

Should You Jog on Snow? The Definitive Guide

I love to jog. I ran cross country back when I was in high school. I wasn't very *good* at it, but I did it anyway (I played basketball and the basketball coach was also the cross country coach and he let it be known that it was sort of expected that you run as well).

I guess it rubbed off because now, many many years later, I still jog as often as I can. My main problem though is one of seasons. I find myself into a nice summer jogging groove, that usually extends into autumn.

MELWOOD CAR DONATION

Then winter rolls around and I still want to jog, but I hate running in the cold weather. (It's cold in the winter where I live).

Invariably, I stick with it and motor on as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. But then it starts snowing and I'm stumped. At the beginning of winter when it starts to snow I keep jogging. The ground doesn't hold much accumulation in those times and the sidewalks or at least the roads are usually clear.

But then as winter deepens, and the snow thickens, I find myself forced to stop jogging and switch to the old trusty indoor exercise bicycle.

And so people always end up asking me this question; Is it ok to jog in the snow?

My answer is yes and no.

For me personally, I can't jog in the snow. It's a matter of hating the cold, and being tall. Tall? Yeah, tall. Long legs seem to make it harder to get traction in the snow and ice. I fall down.

Ok, not all the time, but some times. Either way, I find that my muscles are spending more energy keeping my upright then they are in pushing me towards a good jogging workout.

If the roads are clear, and you have the right clothes to keep you safe from frostbite (which is a real concern for winter jogging), then I say go for it. Jog your heart out.

But if it's so bad outside that the street department hasn't even gotten around to cleaning off the streets, then I suggest you head inside and hit the old treadmill or exercise bike. Or better yet, find a gym that has an indoor track.

Many colleges have indoor tracks if you can't find a gym. If you live near one, even if it's just a community college, you might just walk in and use it. And if they card you, many colleges will sell memberships to their athletic complexes.

So that is my recommendation for jogging in the snow. If the roads are covered, take it inside. If the roads are clear, and you have the gear, jog away.

Should You Jog on Snow? The Definitive Guide

Jason has been writing articles online for over thirteen years. When not writing about health or fitness, Jason runs a wildly popular site about donating cars to charity web site where he shows you how to take advantage of the melwood car donation program.

MELWOOD CAR DONATION