If your vehicle is picked up on or before December 31 in Alaska, the IRS counts your car donation for this tax year—even if it sells later. With Alaska Wheels Forward, powered by Heritage for the Blind (a registered 501(c)(3), EIN 58-2164446), you can start in under two minutes and usually get a free tow the same day or next business day in most metro areas. The physical pickup date is what matters for the deduction, and we send your IRS-required acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale.
Whether you’re in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, Palmer, Kenai, Soldotna, Ketchikan, or out on the Mat-Su roads, we make year-end donating simple. Your car doesn’t need to run, pass inspection, or have current registration—we’ll handle the logistics, the title transfer at pickup, and the paperwork. You get a clean break before the snow piles higher, plus a potential tax deduction when you itemize. Finish the year strong: turn that unused car, truck, SUV, or van into support for people who are blind or visually impaired, right here from Alaska.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start the 2-minute Alaska donation form or call
2 minutesShare your contact info, Alaska pickup address (home, work, or storage lot), and basic vehicle details. It takes about two minutes online or by phone. This locks in your intent and gets your request into our dispatch system for a year-end pickup time that works for you.
Get a quick callback to confirm and schedule
Within 1–2 business hoursA donation coordinator for Alaska Wheels Forward calls you within 1–2 hours on weekdays (often sooner) to confirm the address and set up your free tow. Tell us you need pickup by December 31 so we prioritize a qualifying date and time on the calendar.
Free licensed tow truck arrives for pickup
Same day or next business day in most metro areasIn and around Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and other metro areas, we can usually tow the same day or next business day. The tow is always free statewide. This physical pickup date—if it’s on or before December 31—is what the IRS uses for this year’s charitable contribution.
Sign the title and hand over the vehicle
10 minutes at your curbAt pickup, you sign your Alaska title over to Heritage for the Blind. The driver guides you through where to sign and takes the keys (if available). Once the tow truck leaves on or before December 31, your donation for this tax year is locked in, subject to IRS rules.
We sell the vehicle and mail your tax receipt
Within 30 days of saleYour car is transported, processed, and sold. Within 30 days of the sale, we mail you IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment showing the gross sale price or required valuation details, so you can document your deduction when you file your return.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Dec 31 pickup = this year’s deduction
For IRS purposes, the donation date is when you transfer the vehicle—your pickup date—not when it sells. If your car is picked up on or before December 31, it generally counts as a donation for this tax year when you file and itemize.
Form 1098-C for larger deductions
When we sell your donated vehicle, we issue IRS Form 1098-C or a written acknowledgment within 30 days of the sale. You’ll use that document, especially if your deduction is over IRS thresholds, to substantiate the amount claimed on your tax return.
Deduction usually equals sale price
In most cases, the amount you can deduct is the gross sale price of your vehicle, as shown on your 1098-C. There are limited exceptions under IRS rules if the vehicle is used for charitable purposes instead of sold. Always consult your tax advisor for your situation.
Itemizing on Schedule A
To claim a car donation, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you normally cannot also claim a separate vehicle donation deduction. A tax professional can help you decide which approach benefits you most.
Receipt mailed within 30 days of sale
Heritage for the Blind mails your 1098-C or acknowledgment within 30 days after your car sells. Keep this with your tax records. Even if the sale happens early next year, your deduction year is still based on your December 31 or earlier pickup date.