- FREE TO
REQUEST - LICENSED
PROVIDERS - NO
OBLIGATION
Donating a boat can make sense when it's hard to sell or costly to keep. Ongoing costs include storage rental, insurance, repairs, & more. Submit your boat & it's matched with a qualified charitable organization that accepts it. Pickup & the title transfer are coordinated, & the charity provides the paperwork you need for your return. Read how the deduction works before you decide.
START A DONATION REQUESTHOW THE TAX DEDUCTION WORKS
READ THIS FIRST
Boats are "qualified vehicles" under IRS rules. If you claim more than $500, your deduction is generally limited to what the charity sells the boat for (its gross proceeds), not the boat's market value.
- The charity must give you Form 1098-C, generally within 30 days of selling the boat.
- You attach it to your tax return. Without it, the deduction can be disallowed.
- Limited exceptions apply when the charity uses the boat in its work or significantly improves it before selling.
Talk to your tax advisor before you donate. IRS Publication 526 has the details.
THE PROCESS
HOW A DONATION WORKS
1 · SUBMIT THE BOAT
Details, location & a few photos.
2 · MATCHED WITH A CHARITY
The charity decides what it accepts.
3 · PICKUP
Haul-out or transport is coordinated.
4 · TITLE TRANSFER
You sign the title or USCG documentation over.
5 · FORM 1098-C
The charity sends the acknowledgment for your return.
6 · CLOSE IT OUT
Remove registration numbers; cancel insurance & slip.
START A DONATION REQUEST › IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU
WHEN DONATING MAKES SENSE
THE BOAT IS HARD TO SELL
Older boats, project boats or boats that need work.
CARRYING COSTS ADD UP
Slip, storage & insurance on a boat you no longer use.
YOU WANT IT TO DO SOME GOOD
The proceeds support the charity's work.
If the boat has real resale value & you'd rather have cash, compare a cash offer first.
WATCH FOR
DONATION QUESTIONS
How do I confirm the charity is qualified?
Look the organization up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm it's a qualified 501(c)(3).
Can I donate a boat that doesn't run?
Often, yes. The charity decides what it accepts.
What paperwork should I keep?
A copy of the signed title transfer or documentation & your Form 1098-C.
What do I do after the boat is picked up?
Remove the registration numbers & cancel the insurance & any slip or storage agreement.
Can you tell me what my deduction will be?
No. It depends on what the charity sells the boat for & on your own tax situation. Your tax advisor can tell you.
Total Source Marine Partners is not a charity or a tax advisor & does not give tax advice. Donation requests are shared with qualified charitable organizations & the providers who handle pickup & sale for them. The charity decides whether to accept a boat. Submitting a request does not guarantee acceptance or any particular tax result.
