Life Cycle of a Private Foundation - Substantiating Noncash Contributions

 

A foundation may need to provide additional substantiation with respect to noncash contributions. In addition to these general rules, discussed below, special rulesPDF apply to contributions of motor vehicles.

Dispositions of Donated Property

If an organization receives charitable deduction property and within three years sells, exchanges, or disposes of the property, the organization must file Form 8282, Donee Information Return. However, an organization is not required to file Form 8282 if:

  • The property is valued at $500 or less, or
  • The property is distributed for charitable purposes.

Form 8282 must be filed within 125 days after the disposition. A copy of Form 8282 must be given to the previous donor. If the organization fails to file the required information return, penalties may apply.

Charitable Deduction Property

This is any property (other than money or publicly traded securities) for which the donee organization signed an appraisal summary or Form 8283, Noncash Charitable ContributionsPDF.

Publicly Traded Securities

These are securities for which market quotations are readily available on an established securities market as of the date of the contribution.

Appraisal Summary

If the value of the donated property exceeds $5,000, the donor must get a qualified appraisal for contributions of property (other than money or publicly traded securities). The donee organization is not a qualified appraiser for the purpose of valuing the donated property. For more information, get Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated PropertyPDF.

Form 8283

For noncash donations over $5,000, the donor must attach Form 8283 to the tax return to support the charitable deduction. The donee must sign Part IV of Section B, Form 8283 unless publicly traded securities are donated. The person who signs for the donee must be an official authorized to sign the donee's tax or information returns, or a person specifically authorized to sign by that official. The signature does not represent concurrence in the appraised value of the contributed property. A signed acknowledgement represents receipt of the property described on Form 8283 on the date specified on the form. The signature also indicates knowledge of the information reporting requirements on dispositions, as previously discussed. A copy of Form 8283 must be given to the donee.

Additional information


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