Heritage for the Blind car donation in Texas: your paperwork checklist
Heritage for the Blind is a 501(c)(3) charity, EIN 58-2164446. Before you hand over the keys, do two things yourself: confirm the charity's status with the IRS, and finish the Texas paperwork that protects you once the car is gone. The steps below come from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), the Texas Comptroller and the IRS.
Step 1: Check the charity with the IRS
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search shows whether an organization can receive tax-deductible contributions. Search by EIN (the charity's tax ID number), 58-2164446. The IRS lists legal names on file, not popular names, so a name search can miss.
The same tool shows filings such as Form 990 returns. The IRS says you may rely on its list of eligible charities when deciding whether a gift is deductible.
Step 2: Sign the Texas title
TxDMV tells sellers to provide a properly signed title that includes the date and the odometer reading. Before pickup, photograph the title (front and back), the odometer, the VIN (vehicle identification number) and your license plate.
Texas treats a car given to a qualifying 501(c)(3) as a gift. For a gift, TxDMV lists these papers:
- the signed title;
- an Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U), which has a block for the donor's signature; and
- the Comptroller's Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer (Form 14-317).
The donor and the recipient both sign. The affidavit must be sworn before a notary or a county tax office employee, and one of you files everything in person at a county tax office. The Comptroller says the $10 gift tax is the recipient's to pay.
Ask the charity before pickup which of these papers you will sign, who files them, and what name, address and phone number to list as the new owner. Get the answers in writing.
Step 3: File the Texas Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days
This step protects you. TxDMV says the seller needs to file it, and that if you file within 30 days of the transfer, you cannot be held responsible for parking tickets and toll violations by the new owner. The form covers sales, gifts and donations.
File online at TxDMV.gov/VTN, or mail Form VTR-346 to TxDMV Vehicle Titles and Registration Division, PO Box 26417, Austin, TX 78755-0417. Do not do both. You will need the VIN, your Texas plate number, the date of transfer, and the new owner's name, address and phone number.
Filing does not change the title. The Texas record keeps your name until the new owner titles the car at a county tax office. If tolls or tickets still reach you, TxDMV says you can ask for a confirmation email or send Form VTR-275, which shows the month and year of transfer.
Step 4: Plates, sticker and insurance
TxDMV says a seller may remove the license plates and the registration sticker. You can move the plates to a vehicle you buy later, or keep them for future use. The sticker does not transfer. Plates you do not keep must be defaced so no one can misuse them.
Texas checks insurance through TexasSure, a state database that flags owners without required coverage. Your name can stay on the Texas record for a while after the car leaves.
A safe order: keep coverage until pickup, file the transfer notification, then call your insurer. If you ever get a TexasSure notice for a car you no longer own, TxDMV says to submit a Vehicle Transfer Notification online. Our insurance checklist covers refunds and effective dates.
Common questions
What tax paperwork should I expect from the charity?
- If you claim more than $500, attach Form 1098-C (or an equivalent written statement from the charity) and Form 8283 to your return.
- When a charity sells the car, your deduction is generally the smaller of the sale price or the car's fair market value, with narrow exceptions.
- The IRS says you should get the form within 30 days of the sale.
- If the car sells for $500 or less, you can claim the smaller of $500 or its fair market value.
You can generally deduct only if you itemize. A car donation may be deductible, so check with a tax advisor. More in our tax guide.
I lost my Texas title. Can I still donate?
Start with a replacement. Texas calls it a certified copy of title, and the form is VTR-34, not Form 130-U. Every recorded owner signs and includes a photo ID copy. Fees, timing and lien rules are in our guide to donating without a title.
Can I still file the notification after 30 days?
Yes. The form says TxDMV will still note your record if it arrives late. The 30-day window is what gives you the protection, so file as soon as the car is gone.
Sources: TxDMV: Buying or Selling a Vehicle · TxDMV Form VTR-346: Vehicle Transfer Notification · TxDMV: TexasSure insurance verification · Texas Comptroller: Motor vehicle gift tax · IRS: Search for tax exempt organizations · IRS Publication 526: Charitable Contributions. Last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the agency before you rely on a detail.
