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Level 3
posted Feb 26, 2025 3:36:07 PM

Is the purchase price of inherited household goods the same price as the donation value?

I donated $2500 of household goods to a charity, basing this value on Goodwill/Salvation Army guides. Turbo Tax wants to know the original purchase price (?) the dates (various) and the donation value. Since I inherited them, there is no purchase price. I thought I read somewhere that the purchase price is the value of the items on the day I inherited them. For example, a vase I inherited might have cost $40 new, but I'm valuing it as $3. It seems that the purchase price for TT would then be $3. Turbo Tax also asks if I've had the items longer than a year. Does this matter? I inherited them in April and disposed of them in June. I should think length of time wouldn't matter, especially if the prices are the same. Please confirm, or let me know how to answer these questions. I donated multiple items to multiple groups, none exceeding $5000 in any one category (clothes, books, furniture, etc.). Thanks!

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Feb 26, 2025 10:18:35 PM

Use the Fair Market Value on the date of death for the purchase price. 

2 Replies
Level 15
Feb 26, 2025 10:18:35 PM

Use the Fair Market Value on the date of death for the purchase price. 

Level 3
Feb 27, 2025 12:26:57 PM

Thank you. I'll go on the assumption that because items were inherited, it doesn't matter if I've had the items for a year or not. Using the FMV, there would be no difference in purchase or donation price.