Donate your vehicle in Montana by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and your car donation can count toward this year’s tax return. With Big Sky Rides, your deduction is based on what your vehicle actually sells for, not Kelley Blue Book. When your donated car, truck, SUV, or RV sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) mails you IRS Form 1098-C within 30 days of the sale. That form shows the gross sale price you may be able to deduct when you itemize on Schedule A.
For vehicles that sell at or below $500, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment, and you may generally deduct up to $500 or the vehicle’s fair market value, whichever is lower. We’ll email or mail your pickup confirmation right away—keep that with your tax records to prove you donated by December 31. Big Sky Rides offers free towing across Montana, from Billings, Bozeman, and Missoula to Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, Butte, and the Hi‑Line. No emissions test, no repairs, and non‑running vehicles are welcome. You get year‑end tax benefits while helping Heritage for the Blind provide services to people who are blind or visually impaired. Always consult your tax professional for advice on your specific situation.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2‑minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare your contact info, Montana location, and basic vehicle details online or by phone. We confirm your intent to donate before December 31 so your deduction is tied to this tax year, even if the sale happens later. No title questions or tax jargon—just simple, direct questions.
Lock in your pickup date and donation deadline
5 minutesChoose the best pickup window—often within a few days, Monday through Saturday—in Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Butte, or rural areas. Your confirmation email or receipt shows the donation date; keep it as proof you met the December 31 IRS cutoff.
Free towing anywhere in Montana
1 day to a few daysOur towing partner meets you at home, work, ranch, or cabin—running or not, no inspection required. They provide a pickup receipt on the spot. That document plus your confirmation email is your backup evidence for the IRS that you donated on time in this tax year.
Get your written acknowledgment or IRS Form 1098‑C
Within 30 days of saleAfter your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind mails IRS Form 1098‑C if the gross sale price is over $500. If it’s $500 or less, you receive a written acknowledgment instead. Both documents show what you may deduct when you file and itemize on Schedule A.
Claim your deduction on your tax return
Tax filing timeGive your tax preparer the 1098‑C or written acknowledgment, plus your pickup confirmation. If you itemize on Schedule A, you may be able to deduct the gross sale price (over $500) or up to $500/fair market value (for $500‑and‑under cars). Always confirm with a tax professional.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals the sale price, not book value
For vehicles that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally lets you deduct the gross sale proceeds shown on Form 1098‑C—not Kelley Blue Book or a guess. Your deduction is tied to the actual selling price, even if the sale happens after year‑end.
$500 or under donations use a simple acknowledgment
If your donated vehicle sells for $500 or less, you won’t get Form 1098‑C. Instead, Heritage for the Blind sends a written acknowledgment. In many cases you may deduct up to $500 or the fair market value, whichever is lower—subject to IRS rules and itemizing.
Form 1098‑C for donations over $500
When your car, truck, or SUV sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind mails you IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. This official form lists the sale price, charity details, and vehicle information the IRS expects if you claim a larger car‑donation deduction.
You must itemize on Schedule A
Car donations are a charitable deduction. To benefit, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return instead of taking the standard deduction. A tax professional can help you compare what’s better for you in your Montana tax situation.
Donate by Dec 31 to count for this year
The IRS cares about your donation date, not when your vehicle sells. As long as your car is donated—picked up or signed over—by December 31, it can apply to this tax year. Keep your pickup confirmation and acknowledgment with your records as proof of timing.