Do I need a tax receipt for book donation in Albuquerque?

Whether you actually benefit from a tax-deductible book donation receipt depends on whether you itemize deductions on your federal tax return. Most filers don't itemize anymore — the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act roughly doubled the standard deduction, and the great majority of US filers now take the standard deduction rather than itemizing.

If you take the standard deduction, a tax receipt for your book donation provides zero federal tax benefit. The receipt is just paper. In that case, NMLP's free in-home pickup with no receipt is the same outcome as Goodwill's drop-off with a receipt — except NMLP saves you the drive and accepts more conditions.

If you itemize deductions:

• Book donations are valued at fair market value (typically thrift-store resale price — usually pennies to a few dollars per book, sometimes more for collectibles).
• Single donations under the basic reporting threshold don't require a written receipt; you just need a record.
• Donations over the Form 8283 threshold require IRS Form 8283.
• Donations over the qualified appraisal threshold require a qualified appraisal.
• NMLP cannot provide receipts because it is for-profit. Goodwill of New Mexico and Friends of the Albuquerque Public Library can.

The honest decision: if you itemize and the donation is large enough to materially affect your taxes, route to a 501(c)(3) (Goodwill, Friends of APL). If you take the standard deduction, the convenience of NMLP's free pickup is the better tradeoff.

This is general information, not tax advice. Talk to a CPA for situation-specific guidance.