Anyone familiar with taxes? Need help w/IRS form 8283

[welovedis]

We e-filed last night and today as I was triple checking our forms I realized that Turbo Tax did not include some info from their Its Deductible site into my forms--even though it was supposed to include it.

We donated a lot of household items, clothing, etc.. once in mid Sept and another time in mid Nov. These items came from my mom's apartment (she died a little over 3 years ago and we finally got around to cleaning things out of our house and donating them) and some from our house.

One donation was valued at a little over $2K (28 boxes, filled a large box truck from the charity) and the other was a little over $900--about 10 huge boxes and a few pieces of furniture, etc.. We took pics of everything and the valuation was from the Its Deductible website. We have signed receipts from the charity so that isn't a problem. Plus we have my handwritten inventory of every (yes every) single item in the boxes.

First, I am wondering if we need to document on form 8283 the date of purchase as one particular date? These items were bought by us over the years and the same for my mom's stuff. Plus I don't know the cost basis for them at all.

I know it says this form needs to be filled out if the donation is more than $500, but I was thinking it was $500 for one particular item, not per donation date.

Any clarification from some tax preparers or anyone with experience?

Karen

[Flamingo]

On the form you list two separate donation dates and an approximate listing of what was in each large donation. Attach a list if you need to along with a copy of the donation receipt. You will have to to list the value as "thrift shop value" and you will have to figure out what it initially cost. The IRS website should have some good information as to how to fill out the form. I always attach receipts for any donation listed over $500 to the back of the form because the IRS can be a stickler as to watching donations and attaching the receipts is a way to help possibly prevent an audit if the donation is large.

[welovedis]

Flamingo-thanks for your help. I actually e-filed so I cannot physically attach the docs.

After I posted I figured I'd give the IRS a call and got thru right away-wow! In about 10 mins I had my answer. The rep I spoke with got a supervisor on the line because she was unsure and we all spoke on a 3-way call. The supervisor said because we already e-filed to just wait to see if we get a letter asking for more info on the contributions.

I have a hand-written list of every single item we put into those boxes, it took me months to get everything ready but I have it. We also took pics of each box before we closed it up and a pic of all the boxes together, another of them all in the truck since they nearly filled the truck that picked them up. We have the signed receipt from the charity and I also have the fair market value info from the Its Deductible website (which was free to use).

She said if they ask for more info to send along the charity receipts and photos even and that should be sufficient. She also said that because the amt we were claiming as a donation was insignificant in relation to our adjusted gross income, it shouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, thank you for your insight as I will plan to do that in the future. Having had a tax preparer for the past 10 years has left me a little rusty in the tax prep process!