In Alaska, the IRS uses the actual pickup date of your vehicle as your donation date. That means your car must be physically picked up on or before December 31 to claim a deduction on this tax year’s return. Calling, filling out the form, or even having a pickup scheduled isn’t enough—the truck has to load your vehicle by year-end. To be safe, Alaska Wheels Forward recommends scheduling your pickup at least 3–5 business days before December 31 so we can guarantee a slot.
Alaska Wheels Forward partners with Heritage for the Blind, a trusted 501(c)(3), to provide fast, free pickup across Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, the Mat-Su Valley, the Kenai Peninsula, and more—often Monday through Saturday, even during the holiday rush. We accept most vehicles, running or not, with no inspection or repairs required. Once your vehicle sells, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment (and IRS Form 1098-C if it’s valued over $500), but your deduction year is locked in as of the pickup date. Donate your car before year-end and help support services for people who are blind or visually impaired—right here from Alaska.
Your year-end donation timeline
Start your donation in 2 minutes
2 minutesComplete our quick online form or call Alaska Wheels Forward with your car’s basic info and Alaska pickup location—from Anchorage or Eagle River to Fairbanks, Juneau, or Wasilla. This locks in your request so our dispatch team can prioritize your year-end pickup.
Choose a pickup window before Dec 31
5 minutesOur team confirms your details and offers available pickup days, Monday–Saturday. To safely meet the IRS deadline, schedule your pickup at least 3–5 business days before December 31, especially in winter or if you’re outside major hubs like Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Prepare your title and keys
10–15 minutesLocate your signed Alaska title and keys before pickup. In many cases you don’t need to be home; we can often tow from your driveway, street, or lot in places like Palmer, Kenai, or North Pole. No emissions, no inspection, and no repairs are required.
Vehicle picked up = donation date
15–30 minutesOn your scheduled day, the driver tows your vehicle free. The moment it’s loaded onto the truck—whether in Midtown Anchorage, South Fairbanks, or out on the Kenai—it counts as donated for IRS purposes, as long as that happens on or before December 31.
Receive your tax paperwork by mail
2–4 weeks after saleAfter Heritage for the Blind sells your vehicle, you’ll receive a written acknowledgment, and for vehicles over $500, IRS Form 1098-C. Even if this arrives the next year, your deduction year remains the year the car was picked up in Alaska.
Year-end tax deduction facts
Pickup date sets your tax year
For the IRS, the donation date is when your vehicle is actually picked up—NOT when you call or schedule. To claim the deduction this tax year, your car must be towed away on or before December 31 in Alaska.
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 shows the gross sale price, which generally caps the amount you can deduct on your federal return.
You must itemize on Schedule A
To benefit from a car-donation tax deduction, you need to itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal return. If you take the standard deduction, you typically cannot also deduct your vehicle donation separately.
Written acknowledgment within IRS rules
The IRS requires a written acknowledgment for vehicle donations, generally sent within 30 days of the sale. Even if you receive it in the new year, the deductible year is based on the Alaska pickup date, not the mailing date.
Fair market value limits in some cases
In most cases, your deduction is limited to the vehicle’s sale price. Certain exceptions allow fair market value, but they’re narrow. Alaska Wheels Forward and Heritage for the Blind follow IRS rules so your deduction is properly documented.