The goodwill receipt is basically meaningless. You need to document what you donate and you need to substantiate its value.
A goodwill donation receipt is a document you receive when you donate items to organizations like Goodwill. This receipt serves as proof of your donation for tax purposes. Here's how it works:
Goodwill donations can only get you a deduction on your Federal income taxes if you itemize them. When you file your taxes, you can choose to either take a standard deduction, which is based on your age, marital status, and income, or an itemized deduction, which takes all of your deductible activity into account.
You can claim a deduction of up to 60% of your Adjusted Gross Income. If you donated household items in less than good used condition, if the total estimated value is more than $500, you may still take the deduction. However, you should include a qualified appraisal on your return.
Write in the total fair market value of your donation. This value is determined by you, the donor. Goodwill provides a donation value guide to help determine fair market value. Please note: Goodwill employees cannot help determine fair market value.
The receipt can take a variety of written forms – letters, formal receipts, postcards, computer-generated forms, etc. It's important to remember that without a written acknowledgment, the donor cannot claim the tax deduction.