Could I get a discount on sending items fo charity?
November 21, 2009 | Posted by Rajendrasinh Padhiar 
Sasha asked:
If I am sending several items overseas (clothes, supplies, etc.) to people in need, could I get a discount from the post office or air mail? Approximately how much?
If I am sending several items overseas (clothes, supplies, etc.) to people in need, could I get a discount from the post office or air mail? Approximately how much?
Categories: Community Service | 
Tags: Air Mail, Charity, Post Office | 
2 Comments »
The Post Office won’t give you anything but a hard time and a long line, and certainly not a discount. What you can do is deduct the value of items contributed to charity from your taxable income when you do your taxes. Be sure to save a receipt or at least save the postal receipt so you can prove it in the event of an audit.
In the U.S., the post office will not discount anything.
Now, are you sending the items to a 501(c)3 registered charity? If so, you might be able to deduct the fair value (thrift store prices) of the clothes and the cost of postage and the mileage (14 cents per mile) as a charitable contribution on your taxes. (Consult your tax professional for advice.)
Also, please be aware that sending clothes and things, unsolicited, is sometimes more burden than blessing. I have read that some of these organizations have to pay a fee at the dock to unload their mail, which they didn’t ask for in the first place. They end up losing more than they gain. I recommend you donate your clothes to Goodwill or some local charity who will help the items go to grateful homes in your own area.