How much tax return will I get back if I donate my car to charity?

Question

Someone told me you get $500 in tax return if you donate your car to charity. I live in California so another state could be different.

Answer 1

Can you itemized your deductions using a Schedule A?    A Schedule A is used when your itemized deductions are more than your standard deduction.  You can not have both.  The only way to use this type of deduction is to itemized.  For most average Americans, if they do not have mortgage interest (another item on Schedule A) they will not have enough to itemized and have to take the standard deduction then any charitable donations is out of the kindness of your heart.

Answer 2

Charitable donations do not result in payments to you.  Charitable donations only reduce your taxable income, and then only if you itemize.

If you are in the 15% tax bracket, you would need to donate a car worth $7,500 and have total itemizations greater than  $12,850 in order to reduce your taxes $500.