How to Donate Clothes and Other Items to Goodwill Industries

If you have items to get rid of, but do not want to hold a garage or yard sale, you can donate them to Goodwill Industries and receive a tax receipt. Clean out your home and help others in the process.

Things You'll Need

• items you do not want, use, or need that are in usable condition
• Computer
• Internet Access
• Printer and printer paper

Instructions

1. 

   Wash all clothing and items you wish to donate.

2. 

   It is better to place your items in boxes instead of garbage bags, especially clothing. As you fold your clothing and place it into a box, write down your items on notebook paper, leaving space between groups of items. For example, you would write "kids jeans", "kids shirts", "adult jeans" and so forth. Place a tally mark under each label as you place your items into the box(es).

3. 

   You can drive your donations to you local Goodwill store, or you can arrange for a home pick up for larger items (see resource link below).

4. 

   Ask for a tax receipt. They may not automatically give you one.

5. 

   Staple your Goodwill receipt to your notebook paper that has your tally marks.

6. 

   Go to Goodwill's online Web site and find the value your items are worth. Some stores may have a price guide that they can give you also.

7. 

   Total each group of items, add all amounts and place the grand total of your donation on the top receipt.

8. 

   Make a file and label it "Donations". Place all your donations in this file throughout the year.

9. 

   Keep a sheet of paper at the front of the file, or on very front of the file folder, marking the donation places, dates, and grand totals from each day of donations.

10. 

    At the end of the year, add your grand totals together and place it on the very top for tax purposes.

Tips & Warnings

• For your master file sheet, you can create a simple one on your computer using excel

• see resource links for additional free printable sheets and other information

Resources

• Tax Deductions by Donating to Goodwill Industries
• Tax Valuation Printables from Bankrate.com
• Tracking Tax-Deductible Donations
• Items I've Donated Checklist