In Massachusetts, the IRS donation date is the day your vehicle is actually picked up, not the day you call or schedule. To claim your deduction for this tax year, Velocity Vehicle and Heritage for the Blind must physically tow your car away by December 31. Because our drivers operate Monday–Saturday and year-end fills up fast, we strongly recommend you schedule your free pickup at least 3–5 business days before December 31 to lock in a time.
Velocity Vehicle coordinates fast, free towing across Massachusetts – from Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, and Dorchester to Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Brockton, New Bedford, the North Shore, South Shore, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires. No inspection, emissions sticker, or repairs are needed, and non-running vehicles are welcome. After your vehicle sells, Heritage for the Blind (a 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446) will mail you the written acknowledgment you need for your taxes. But your deduction year is based on the pickup date, so if you want this year’s tax benefit, now is the moment to schedule.
Your year-end donation timeline
Step 1 – Start the 2-minute donation form or call
2 minutesShare your Massachusetts location (Boston, Worcester, Springfield, etc.), basic vehicle info, and how to reach you. It takes about two minutes, and you don’t need the title in hand to start the conversation in most situations.
Step 2 – Choose a pickup window before December 31
5 minutesOur team checks local Massachusetts tow availability Monday–Saturday, then offers you the earliest open slot. To be safe, pick a date at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so weather or holiday delays don’t push your pickup into next year.
Step 3 – Confirm the IRS deadline and paperwork
5 minutesWe’ll clearly confirm that your IRS donation date is the actual pickup date. You’ll get instructions on any title documents needed in Massachusetts and what you’ll receive for your tax records after your vehicle sells.
Step 4 – Free towing anywhere in Massachusetts
1 day to a few daysA professional towing partner arrives at your home, workplace, or storage lot—whether you’re in Dorchester, Newton, Brockton, or Pittsfield. Running or not, your car is hauled away at no cost to you before the December 31 deadline.
Step 5 – Receive your tax receipt after the sale
Varies by sale timeAfter Velocity Vehicle coordinates the sale, Heritage for the Blind mails you a written acknowledgment. For vehicles over $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098-C showing the sale price you’ll use when you itemize your deduction.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date = donation year
For IRS purposes, your donation date is when the vehicle is actually picked up and transferred, not when you schedule. If your car is towed on or before December 31, it can count for that tax year.
Form 1098-C for vehicles over $500
If your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heritage for the Blind issues IRS Form 1098-C. This form lists key details, including the gross sale proceeds used to calculate your allowable deduction.
Deduction usually equals sale price
In most cases, your charitable vehicle deduction is limited to the amount the car actually sells for. The sale price on Form 1098-C is what you’ll generally claim when you itemize on Schedule A.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To use a car donation as a federal tax deduction, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction, you generally cannot claim an additional write-off for your donated vehicle.
Written acknowledgment within IRS timeframes
Heritage for the Blind will mail your written acknowledgment—often Form 1098-C—after your vehicle sells. IRS rules require this within set timeframes, but your deduction year remains tied to the actual pickup date.