How to Get a Tax Write-Off by Recycling Cell Phones

Recycling old cell phones helps the planet and helps non-profit organizations. Donating helps you, too, because you can write off the donation for that tax year. Many organizations make it easy for cell phone users to donate the old phones as a tax write off.

Instructions

1. Locate a non-profit 501c3 IRS tax-exempt status organization that offers proof of donation of used cell phones. Most organizations show proof of tax exempt status without reservation.

2. Select a local organization like a school, children's home or girls and boys clubs if you want a more localized effect on your donation of the cell phone.

3. Choose a larger more reputable non-profit organization like California Recycles, Donate a Phone, Collective Good or Recycle for Breast Cancer to donate your old cell phone. The IRS recognizes these groups easily, and the donation receipt prints out online.

4. Contact your cell phone carrier and ask about their cell phone donation program, which you write-off like any other non-profit program. At times, carriers offer specials if you turn in your old cell phone and re-sign the carrier contract.

5. Keep your donation receipts in your tax file for the next tax year filing. Make sure you have your accountant check to be sure that all forms apply as proper evidence of your cell phone donation.

6. File your cell phone purchase receipt in a safe place as evidence of the cost of the phone, so when you do donate the old cell phone, you have proof of the cost and a legitimate amount to write-off.

Tips & Warnings

• Erase all information from your cell phone before you donate it. Most cell phones get recycled into the system, and if another party uses it, you want to avoid offering your personal data to a complete stranger. The cell phone manual tells you how to erase all your information.

• Terminate your old cell phone account before you donate it.