Can I donate electronics to a school for a tax deduction?

Question

I have a laptop computer that I am no longer using. Can I donate it to the school that my wife works at and take a tax deduction? She spoke to someone at the school that said they will give me a letter on school letterhead that says I made the donation and what the value of it is (based on what I tell them). Is that all I need to write it off next year?

Answer 1

Yes, you can and that is all you need. but if the value is more than $500, you will be needing more info.

Answer 2

The other answers are close to correct - yes, you can take the deduction, as long as it isn't a for-profit school.

But their giving you a receipt for it based on what you tell them is not acceptable. You'd have to show that that's a reasonable value for it at the time of donation - maybe print off several ebay listings on very similar models. Otherwise, if questioned (and donations of property do often get looked at closely) your deduction could be disallowed. As you know, like many electronics, the price of laptops has fallen considerably even for new ones, and used ones aren't worth much, especially if they're more than a couple years old.

Answer 3

That may be correct. Here is the deal. If you donate equipment for a value lower than $5,000 you may be required to obtain a receipt from the donee indicating the value and that it was in working condition. The fat that your wife works there is not a factor to claiming the deduction. However, if your wife will get something in return, (if the donation was not at arms length) the deduction may fail.

To your question the letter may be all you need to claim the deduction.