Garage Sale vs. Donation

As you clean out your attic and closets, you might find yourself neck-deep in bell-bottom jeans, polyester leisure suits, dusty garden gnomes, and heaps of old toys—not to mention that collection of velvet dolphin paintings you inherited from your grandmother. You know you want to get rid of it all, but what will get you the biggest bang for your stuff?

You could plant a garage sale sign in your yard and try to make some quick cash. Then again, you could save yourself blood, sweat and tears and simply donate the goods to your local charity—which could lead to a tax deduction next April, if you itemize deductions. 

Keep reading to learn which option makes the most financial sense.

One’s Man Trash = A Wad of Cash?

There’s no question that garage sales require a ton of work. You have to sort through your unwanted stuff, place price tags on each item and then haul everything onto the driveway and neatly display the goods. If you want folks to show up, you’ll also need to promote your sale by planting signs around the neighborhood and maybe also advertising through the local penny-saver or community website. Yet despite all the time and effort they require, some folks actually enjoy holding garage sales—and the lucky ones end up making a decent chunk of change.

Although the average yard-sale item is priced at a meager 85 cents, these sales rake in more than $4 million each week across the U.S., according to a Signs.com study. While that may seem like serious dough, the profits are far less impressive when you break down the numbers by individual garage sales. The vast majority of sellers makes less than $300, based on a poll by YardSaleSearch.com.

On the plus side, the proceeds from a garage sale are not taxable. “Garage sales are considered the sale of personal property, and you do not have to claim the money you received from the sale,” explains P. David Alessandri, a Certified Public Accountant in Tampa, Florida.

Donate for Good Karma – and a Nice Tax Deduction

If the thought of organizing a garage sale makes doing your income taxes sound like fun, you can always box up your unwanted items and drop them off at the local Goodwill, Salvation Army or another charitable organization’s shop. You’ll avoid a the headache of a sale and have the satisfaction of helping families in need. As an added bonus, you may be eligible for a tax deduction.

To be sure that donation is truly tax deductible, keep these three things in mind:

“As long as you itemize your deductions, you can list your ‘non-cash’ donations on Schedule A,” Alessandri explains.

Your donated items are assessed at “fair-market value,” which you can determine by comparable sales on eBay, Craigslist or at local thrift stores. You can also find donation-value guides on many charitable organization websites. If your donations for the year add up to more than $500, you must complete Form 8283 and attach it to your return. On this more complex form, you have to describe each item over the $500 that you donated, identify the recipient and provide information about the value of the item, including your cost or adjusted basis.

How big a deduction will you receive? That depends on your tax bracket and rate. For example, if you donate goods with a fair market value of $1,000 and your effective tax rate is 15%, you will reduce your tax bill by $150.

The Bottom Line

So, which has the higher payoff: garage sale or donation? If you file a tax return with itemized deductions, consider doing both. Hold a garage sale for some quick cash. Donate the items you don’t sell to a charity for the tax deduction. “That way, you’ll end up with some cash and maybe a little extra tax savings on your tax return,” Alessandri adds. If you take the standard deduction, though, bite the bullet and have a garage sale.