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Tax-Deductible Donations to Goodwill Benefit Jobless in Your Community

December 1, 2006

Rockville, MD — Make room for your holiday gifts — de-clutter your home and give your gently used clothing and other unwanted items to Goodwill Industries. And claim a tax deduction to get a little money back from Uncle Sam in the process.

"Cleaning out your closet is an easy way to invest in your community and, at the same time, get a tax break," says George W. Kessinger, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Thanks to your donations, last year Goodwill helped someone find a job every 57 seconds of every business day."

With the passage of the Pension Protection Act in August 2006, new rules about claiming tax deductions for charitable donations went into effect. For cash contributions, donors must show a receipt from the charity, a canceled check, or credit card statement to prove their donation, and may not claim a deduction if they cannot provide supporting documentation. For material donations, donors may claim a deduction only for items that are in "good" condition. For items worth more than $500, a qualified appraisal must accompany the claim.

"A good rule of thumb to follow when determining the condition of something you want to donate is to consider whether or not you would give it to a relative or a friend," says Kessinger. "If the answer is yes, then it's fit to donate and most likely in "good" condition."

Goodwill accepts clothing, household items, toys, computers, cars and other vehicles - even those holiday gifts that weren't quite right. Items are sold in Goodwill stores and online at www.shopgoodwill.com, for the benefit of Goodwill's job training and career services.

To make a financial donation by credit card , donors can visit www.goodwill.org, or send a check to Goodwill Industries International, Inc.; 15810 Indianola Drive; Rockville, MD 20855. To donate gently-used clothing and household items , use the online locator at www.goodwill.org to find the Goodwill near you, or call (800) 664-6577.