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Glossary

Form 8283

Form 8283 is an Internal Revenue Service tax form that U.S. taxpayers file to report donations of noncash property to charity, such as clothing, vehicles, or artwork, when claiming a deduction.

What Is Form 8283?

Form 8283, titled Noncash Charitable Contributions, is a federal tax form that taxpayers attach to their income tax return when they give property other than cash to a qualified charity and claim a charitable deduction for it. Typical donations include used clothing and household goods, vehicles, artwork, and shares of stock. The form tells the Internal Revenue Service what was donated, when it was acquired, and what value the donor is claiming. Cash gifts are documented differently and do not use this form.

How the Form Works

The form has two sections, and the one that applies depends on how much the donor is claiming for the gifts. Section A covers smaller noncash gifts. Section B covers larger ones and generally requires a qualified appraisal prepared by an independent appraiser, a signed appraiser statement, and an acknowledgment signed by the receiving charity.

Donors generally report the property's fair market value on the date of the gift. For certain types of property, such as items that would have produced ordinary income if sold, the deduction is limited to the donor's cost basis rather than the full market value. Because charitable deductions are claimed on Schedule A, the form generally applies only to taxpayers who choose to itemized deductions rather than taking the standard deduction.

Why It Matters to Investors

Investors may encounter Form 8283 when donating appreciated stock, mutual fund shares, or other holdings instead of selling them and giving the cash. In many cases, a donor who gives a long-term holding directly to charity may avoid recognizing the capital gain that a sale would have triggered, while still reporting the gift's fair market value. Because the deduction depends on how long the asset was held and what it was worth on the day of the gift, records of purchase dates, cost basis, and valuation are important.

The rules are detailed and change over time, so the instructions published by the Internal Revenue Service are the authoritative reference for the current requirements.

Updated November 4, 2026. For general education only; not financial, tax or legal advice.

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Related Terms

Qualified Appraisal

A qualified appraisal is a written valuation of property, prepared by a credentialed independent appraiser under U.S. tax rules, that is required to support certain large noncash charitable donation deductions.

Fair Market Value (FMV)

The estimated price at which property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, both acting freely and knowing the relevant facts, with neither under pressure to trade.

Cost Basis

Cost basis is the original value of an asset for tax purposes, usually its purchase price plus certain costs, used to work out the capital gain or loss when the asset is sold.

Itemized Deduction

An itemized deduction is a specific eligible expense that a taxpayer subtracts from adjusted gross income on a federal return, as an alternative to taking a standard deduction.

Capital Gain

A capital gain is the profit earned when an asset, such as a stock, bond, or property, is sold for more than its purchase price, or cost basis.

Standard Deduction

A fixed dollar amount that reduces a taxpayer's taxable income in the United States for those who do not itemize their deductions. The amount varies by filing status and is adjusted periodically.