Are Donated Tickets Tax Deductible?
General information about how ticket gifts to TixGiving Foundation are documented. Whether a deduction applies depends on your situation. This is not tax advice.
The short version
Under IRC Section 170, a gift of property to a qualified charity may be deductible, subject to valuation, substantiation, and other rules that depend on your situation. Tickets are property. TixGiving Foundation Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 33-4094834.
Questions to discuss with a qualified tax professional include timing relative to the event, whether the gift went to a qualified charity rather than an individual, and what written acknowledgment you have.
You set the value, not us
TixGiving Foundation does not appraise, certify, or promise the value of donated tickets. When you submit tickets, you state the value yourself. Complimentary, promotional, or perk tickets may be treated differently; please contact TixGiving before entering a value and consult your own qualified tax professional. We preserve a $0 entry exactly as you enter it.
Substantiation thresholds
Under $250
Keep records of what you donated, when, and to whom. Our acknowledgment letter describes the tickets we received; ask your tax professional what records you need.
$250 or more
IRS rules generally call for a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity. TixGiving sends an acknowledgment letter describing the tickets once the Foundation verifies receipt; whether it meets your requirements is a question for your tax professional.
Over $500
IRS Form 8283, Section A, may apply. See the Form 8283 instructions and ask your tax professional.
Over $5,000
Form 8283, Section B, and a qualified appraisal may apply. Talk with your tax advisor before donating.
What we send you
Under TixGiving's current process, you receive an acknowledgment letter once the Foundation verifies the tickets are in its account; it describes the tickets received. Later, we may send an Impact Update reporting placement, delivery, or that tickets could not be placed. An Impact Update is not a tax receipt and does not change or withdraw your acknowledgment letter. Your tax treatment depends on applicable rules and your own facts. Your documents stay available to you in your account and at /receipts.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Deductibility depends on your individual circumstances, whether you itemize, and your adjusted gross income limits. Consult a qualified tax professional before claiming a deduction.
Keep reading
- How to donate unused concert or sports tickets — the full step by step donor guide, including mobile transfer tickets.
- Ticket donation FAQ — answers for donors, season ticket holders, and venues.