Donate your car in Iowa before December 31 and, in most cases, you can deduct the price it sells for—NOT the Kelley Blue Book value. When your donated vehicle sells for more than $500, Heartland Wheels (benefiting 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 exact gross sale price you may claim when you itemize on Schedule A. If your vehicle is $500 or under, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment and you may typically deduct $500 or your car’s fair market value, whichever is lower. Keep your pickup confirmation as proof of your donation date. Always consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
We make it easy and local for Iowa donors. Whether you’re in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Waterloo, Davenport, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Ames, or a rural community along I‑35 or Highway 20, we arrange free pickup—often within a few days. No inspection or repairs needed, and non‑running cars are welcome. Our 2‑minute online form or quick phone call locks in your donation before the year‑end cutoff, and proceeds fund services for people who are blind or visually impaired. You handle one simple decision before December 31; Heartland Wheels handles the rest.
Your year-end donation timeline
1. Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesComplete our secure online form or call from anywhere in Iowa—Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City and beyond. Provide basic vehicle and contact details. Once you submit, your intent to donate is set in motion for this tax year if you do it by December 31.
2. Choose your free Iowa pickup time
5 minutesOur towing partner contacts you, usually within one business day, to schedule free pickup across Iowa—homes, farms, apartments, or workplaces. Monday–Saturday dispatch, no emissions or safety inspection, and non‑running vehicles are fine. You pick a convenient window before or after New Year’s.
3. Hand over keys and get pickup confirmation
10–15 minutesOn pickup day in places like West Des Moines, Coralville, Bettendorf, or Mason City, you sign the title, hand over the keys, and receive a towing receipt or confirmation. Keep this as proof of your donation date for your records—especially if you’re targeting the December 31 IRS cutoff.
4. We sell your vehicle and report the price
Varies by sale dateHeartland Wheels arranges the sale. When your vehicle sells for more than $500, the gross sale price determines your deduction amount. For vehicles that sell at or under $500, your deduction is generally $500 or fair market value, whichever is lower, based on IRS rules.
5. Receive your tax paperwork by mail
Within 30 days of saleIf your Iowa vehicle sells for more than $500, we mail IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. For vehicles at $500 or below, you receive a written acknowledgment. Attach this to your records and use it when you itemize your deduction on Schedule A of your federal return.
6. Claim your deduction on your tax return
When you fileGive your tax preparer your 1098‑C or acknowledgment and towing receipt. If you itemize on Schedule A, you may deduct the allowable amount for your Iowa car donation, subject to IRS limits. Always consult a tax professional for advice specific to your income and situation.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Deduction equals actual sale price
For Iowa car donations that sell for more than $500, the IRS generally lets you deduct the vehicle’s gross sale price—not Kelley Blue Book. That amount appears on Form 1098‑C, which Heartland Wheels sends after your car sells.
Special rule for $500-or-under vehicles
If your donated vehicle is sold for $500 or less, you typically may deduct $500 or the car’s fair market value, whichever is lower, based on IRS rules. Heartland Wheels provides a written acknowledgment for your records instead of Form 1098‑C.
Form 1098‑C for larger deductions
When your donated car, truck, or SUV sells for more than $500, you’ll receive IRS Form 1098‑C within 30 days of the sale. This official form documents the sale price, which is the key figure your tax preparer will use for your charitable deduction.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from your Heartland Wheels car donation, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you generally can’t add a separate charitable vehicle deduction. Ask a tax professional which approach is best.
Donate by Dec 31 for this year’s taxes
The IRS looks at the date you donate, not when the vehicle sells. Completing your donation with Heartland Wheels by December 31 generally makes it eligible for this tax year, even if the car sells and your 1098‑C arrives early next year.
30-day paperwork window after sale
Once your Iowa vehicle sells, Heartland Wheels sends your 1098‑C (for sales over $500) or written acknowledgment (for $500 and under) within 30 days of the sale date. Keep this with your records along with your tow receipt showing when you donated.