Question:
Do Donors have to Submit an Appraisal with Their Tax Return if the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the Non-Cash Charitable Contribution is $20,000 or More? Or is that Amount Now $50,000?
Donors of property with FMV of $20,000 or more must submit an appraisal when filing their taxes if they claim a tax deduction. Until 2011, IRS had mandatory review by the Art Advisory Panel of all donated property appraised at $20,000 or higher. The mandatory review amount was increased in 2011 to $50,000 if the taxpayer is audited. The requirement for an appraisal to be submitted for a charitable contribution of art, antiques, collectables, etc. of $20,000 or more did not change.
For more information, see the Final IRS Rule Regarding Noncash Charitable Contributions, Substantiation, and Appraisals and/or the Instructions for Form 8283, Section B, Part I.
The IRS Regulations State that an Appraisal Must Not be Prepared More than 60 Days Prior to the Effective Date of Donation. Are there any Limitations on How Long After the Donation the Appraisal can be Prepared?
Answer:
Yes. The appraisal must be prepared in time to be included with the donor's tax documents when filing their annual tax return. If the donor files for an extension for filing, the appraisal must be prepared in time for it to be included with the filing. For example, if the donation occurred October 1, 2021, the appraisal must be completed in time for the income tax filing deadline (April 15, 2022).
Note: Clients typically, and incorrectly, assume that the report must be completed and in their hands by December 31, if that is the end of their tax year (annual rather than fiscal). Instead, that is the date by which the gift must be made, not the date by which the report must be prepared. (See above.)
Can a Client Who Donates Property to a Charity Auction Take a Fair Market Value as their Tax Deduction?
Answer:
Because
of the requirements for related use of donated property, donors of property to
charity auctions should not assume they can deduct the FMV of the donated
property from their taxes. Instead, they can deduct either the cost basis or
the FMV of the property, whichever is the lesser amount. Items donated to an
organization that will use that property for fundraising at an auction do not
meet the IRS tax criterion for a “related use.” The mission
of the recipient institution is not to sell property; thus, the donation is NOT
considered a “related use,” even if the funds generated are used for
a “related use.”
For more information on related use, see IRS Pub. 526, Charitable Contributions.
Note: Prices fetched for properties sold at charity auctions are not usually acceptable as evidence of comparable sales for appraisal assignments. Donors to non-profit organizations that sell the contributed property at a charity auction cannot use the selling price of the property at the charity auction as their deducted amount.