Did you know the average American today buys twice as many pieces of clothing as did the average American 20 years ago? That same average American will throw away nearly 70 pounds of linens, clothing, and other textiles each year. That’s 70 pounds of of fabric per person per year ending up in our landfills. The good news is there are alternatives for those used goods: charities are always looking for donations.
Before you dive into your Spring Cleaning this year, consider these 6 facts about used clothing and household item donationss:
If you’re thinking about planning some pick up clothing donations for your used goods, keep these tips in mind:
- The best charities to donate to can be recognized by their IRS status. Before you choose where to donate household items and used clothes, make sure your the charity you’ve chosen is categorized as tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This will guarantee you’re donating to a non-profit organization who has been recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS for its charitable programs.
- A charitable donation worth more than $250 requires a receipt if you wish to write it off on your taxes. This applies to all charitable donations, including household and clothes donations.
- Donations of any single clothing or household item that is not in good condition or better and for which you will deduct more than $500, requires a qualified appraisal be submitted with your tax return. Qualified appraisers can be found via an internet search or you may try asking local charity foundations if they can recommend someone to you.
When to donate, where to donate, what to donate, and how to donate are all personal decisions that vary from individual to individual. Some prefer to donate to specific charities or for certain causes such as donations for veterans specifically or to charities for wounded soldiers. Others value the convenience of pick up clothing donations or drive-up clothing drop off locations. Regardless of when, where, or how you choose to make your charitable contribution, know that the value of charitable donations is appreciated in many folds: by your less-cluttered closet and your lower tax bill; by all of the citizens of our nation whose landfill will be that much lighter; by the charities you donate to; and most of all by the men, women, and children who will have the chance to give your used items a second lease on life. From all of us, thank you for giving.
