The free shipping is great, of course, but the free pickup is what makes this program so easy; there’s no reason not to do it. I have three Goodwill donation locations close to me (and a car), but for some people, taking items for donation can be difficult or impossible.
How to get the tax-write off
These donations are tax deductible, but you need to follow a few steps to make sure you can claim it on your taxes.
- Create an account with Give Back Box.Use the tracking number you get when you create your label, and itemize donations online.Once your donation has been accepted and processed, you will be notified by email and receive a receipt.
I’m not sure if a donation made in the next week or so will count for your 2016 taxes if the receipt isn’t dated until 2017. Since we’re so close to the end of the year, if you want to make sure your donations count for this tax year, take them in person and get a 2016 receipt. That’s what I will be doing — but next year, I’ll definitely be using the Give Back Box program throughout the year to send donations instead of letting them pile up for one big haul at the end of the year.
