How your Columbus car donation can benefit you next Tax Day

As another tax season has passed, it's a good time to start thinking about next year's taxes. Whether you're an early filer or the sort who is burning the midnight oil right up until the deadline, you can start planning now for ways to get the most out of your return next year.

So imagine this scenario: What if there was something you wanted to get rid of anyhow that you could donate with minimal hassle and get a great deduction for your taxes next year?

Your Columbus car donation doesn't just fuel our programs to help change lives. It can make financial sense for you next tax season.

Turning your car donation into a tax deduction

If you have an unused or unwanted vehicle to donate, your first benefit might just be getting it off your property — and we can arrange free same-day towing, even if the vehicle is no longer running.

Not only is your donation a nice tax deduction, there can be instances when it's not only simpler to donate.

As a qualified 501(c)(3) organization, your contributions to Volunteers of America, including car donations, are fully tax-deductible. And we make the process as simple as possible.

You can claim a tax deduction of the fair market value of your vehicle up to $500 or the selling price at auction. You should note that the "fair selling price" of your vehicle is not the same as the value you might see in a used car "blue book" guide, particularly if the vehicle needs repairs to get it in working order. If you have questions, you can call 1-800-862-6030 or visit the Internal Revenue Service online.

We'll take care of the needed paperwork for your tax deduction. First, we'll mail out an official written receipt of your charitable contribution, as well as a copy of the vehicle's title. And once your donated vehicle sells at auction, we'll send you the necessary paperwork for filing your deduction next year.

Getting your Columbus car donation started is easy

Now that you know the potential tax benefits of donating your car, we make the process smooth and easy. All you need is a clean title, and we accept donations of cars, trucks, boats, RVs — pretty much anything that has a motor.

Here are three simple ways to get started:

• Online: Just fill out our online form, and we'll contact you to schedule a convenient pickup time.
• By phone: Call us at 800-862-6030 to start the donation process.
• In person: You can drop off your car with a clean title at 5640 W. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio, 43228.

The real benefit of donating your car isn't the ease of donation or even the tax benefit. It's knowing that you are helping make Columbus better through our programs that help everyone from homeless veterans to young people in need. You can't put a price tag on that feeling.