Form 8283, Section A, Column g - Can I Input "Various"?

[dmalma]

Hi,

Regarding Form 8283:  Is it acceptable by the IRS to use the word “Various” for Section A, Column g (“Donor’s Cost or Adjusted Basis) if I donated 155 non-cash items (Clothing and Household Goods) to Goodwill on a single day that are valued at $60 or less for each item, with a total FMV of $1,015? 

Can I also use “Various” for Column e too (“Date Acquired”) since all items were acquired at different times?

Note:  When I’ve used It’s Deductible in past tax years (with same type of situation) Turbo Tax always left columns e, f, and g blank for some reason but I’m not sure if that was the correct thing to do.

Thanks for your help.

[MonikaK1]

Yes, you can group the items as you have done. Note that in the heading of Section A, the form states that you can list "an item (or a group of similar items) for which you claimed a deduction of $5,000 or less". It is not necessary to list each individual item on the form. You are expected to have maintained records to support the totals reported on Form 8283.  The IRS rules have not changed. See the IRS Instructions for Form 8283 for more information.

If you donated, for example, several bags of clothing on a particular date, you can list "clothing" on Form 8283 and one total for all of the items. If you donated an assortment of household items, you can list "household items" with one total.

See also this TurboTax help article for information about the new fair market valuation (FMV) tool that helps you price your charitable donations if you’re itemizing your deductions.