The Easy Way to Turn Your Unwanted Stuff Into Tax Write-Offs

If you have unwanted or unused items cluttering your home and shipping boxes lying around, you’ve got an easy tax deduction.

An organization called Give Back Box and a handful of retailers have made this possible. As Give Back Box puts it, “donating is as easy as 1-2-3.”

Here’s how it works:

1. Pack the items you want to donate to charity in any shippable (corrugated) box. If you have Amazon boxes sitting around from your Prime Day spoils, for example, you can put them to good use this way.
2. Print a prepaid shipping label from Give Back Box’s website and attach it to your box. Be sure to include your name and email so a tax receipt can be emailed to you.
3. Drop your box of donations off at a UPS or U.S. Postal Service location, or set up a Postal Service pickup for your box.

From there, your box will be routed to the nearest participating charity, Give Back Box says. Its partners cover shipping costs, so there’s no cost to you.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Household items like clothes, shoes and jewelry are accepted. Electronics are not.
• Give Back Box asks that you “donate generously,” noting that “the better the quality of your donations, the more people you can help.”
• Don’t ship liquids; fragile, hazardous or volatile items; or ammunition.
• Every box you send needs its own shipping label.
• If you’re unable to print, you can email your address to [email protected] and a shipping label will be mailed to you.

If you’re more interested in turning your clutter into cash, here’s “Where to Sell Your Stuff for Top Dollar.”

You might also want to check out:

• “How to Get the Most Cash From Your Old Phone”
• “The Smart Way to Sell the Family Silver for Cash”
• “8 Ways to Make Money From Your Old Beater Car”

What’s your favorite way to get rid of clutter? Let us know below or on Facebook.