Donate your car in Texas by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and you may deduct it on your current-year federal return. Here’s how it works: when your vehicle sells for over $500, Heritage for the Blind (Rev Up Giving’s 501(c)(3) partner, EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. Your deduction is the actual gross sale price of the vehicle, not Kelley Blue Book. If it sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and may generally deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower, as long as you itemize on Schedule A. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date and always consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Rev Up Giving makes it fast and local for Texans. From Dallas–Fort Worth (Plano, Arlington, Frisco) to Houston (Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands), Austin (Round Rock, Cedar Park, South Austin), San Antonio (Alamo Heights, Stone Oak), and smaller communities like Lubbock, Midland, McAllen, Waco, and Tyler, we arrange free pickup, often within a few days, Monday–Saturday. Your car doesn’t need to run—no inspection, no repairs. You get the tax paperwork; Heritage for the Blind receives the proceeds to support people who are blind or visually impaired. Start now, before year-end creeps up.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your Texas donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesEnter your contact and vehicle details in our secure online form or call to donate from anywhere in Texas—Houston high-rises, Fort Worth suburbs, or rural Hill Country. Once you submit, your donation date is set as of that day for tax purposes, as long as pickup is completed.
Confirm free pickup and donation date
5 minutesOur towing partner calls to schedule a free pickup that works for you—often within a few days, Monday through Saturday, across Texas. You’ll receive a pickup confirmation; keep it as proof that you donated by December 31 for this year’s tax deduction.
Hand off keys, title, and receive pickup slip
15 minutesOn pickup day, you hand over the vehicle, keys, and signed title. The driver gives you a towing receipt or pickup slip. This shows the date the charity took possession in Texas—an important record if the IRS ever questions your year-end deduction.
Vehicle sells and your tax paperwork is issued
Varies (after sale)Rev Up Giving coordinates the sale. If your car sells for over $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. If it sells for $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment with the details you’ll need for your records.
Claim your deduction on your federal return
Tax timeAt tax time, give Form 1098‑C or your written acknowledgment to your tax professional. If you itemize deductions on Schedule A, you may deduct the gross sale price (or up to $500/fair market value for low-value vehicles), subject to IRS rules for charitable gifts.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals sale price, not Blue Book
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally limits your charitable deduction to the actual gross sale proceeds, not the Kelley Blue Book value. Your Form 1098‑C will show that sale price for your tax return.
How $500-or-less car donations work
If your donated vehicle sells for $500 or less, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment instead of Form 1098‑C. In most cases, you may deduct the smaller of $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, assuming you itemize deductions.
Form 1098-C mailed within 30 days of sale
When your vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind must send IRS Form 1098‑C to you within 30 days of the sale date. Keep this form with your records and give a copy to your tax pro when preparing your return.
Must itemize on Schedule A to deduct
To claim a car donation deduction, you generally must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you usually cannot take an additional separate deduction for the donated vehicle.
Donate by Dec 31 for this year’s taxes
Your donation counts for the tax year in which the charity takes possession—so a pickup on or before December 31 in Texas is typically required to deduct it on this year’s return. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of the date.