May 18, 2008

VEHICLE DONATIONS

HELP US TRAIN SO WE CAN HELP YOU.

The Rescue Squad gratefully accepts donations of vehicles for use in our training activities. Thank you for your generous donation. Your gift will enable Rescue Squad crews to maintain proficiency in the use of advanced tools that we use to rescue injured people trapped in vehicle collisions. The Rescue Squad does not sell donated vehicles.

If you wish to donate a vehicle to the Rescue Squad, please keep the following in mind:

• We accept the following types of vehicles:

automobiles
SUVs

• Hours and Location

We generally accept vehicles Monday through Friday during the hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. All vehicles must be brought to our headquarters, located at 5020 Battery Lane (at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road), Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

To ensure that someone will be available to accept your vehicle, or to make arrangements for after-hours drop-off, please call 301-652-0077 before delivering your vehicle to the Rescue Squad.

• Documentation

Please bring your original vehicle title, as well as photo identification, when you donate your vehicle.

• Deductibility of Your Vehicle Donation

Because the Rescue Squad uses donated vehicles to directly support its charitable purpose and does not sell donated vehicles, you can generally deduct the full fair market value of the donated vehicle. Deductions can be limited by other factors. For more information, see “Maximizing your deduction” below.

To donate a vehicle to the Rescue Squad:

1. Please call 301-652-0077 before you deliver your vehicle, in order to ensure that someone will be available to accept your vehicle.

2. Deliver your vehicle to our headquarters, 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. When you arrive, go to the dispatcher’s office (use the front entrance, near the flagpole). Someone will then meet you and complete the paperwork.

3. Please provide your original vehicle title, as well as photo identification. Be sure to fill in the “Assignment of Ownership” section of the title with:

                 “Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad.”

4. Please let us know if you plan to claim a tax deduction of more than $500.   We are required to file a Form 1098-C with the IRS reporting your taxpayer identification number (TIN) and the fact that we received your vehicle as a donation.  If you do not wish to report your TIN, the IRS will limit your deduction to $500. Please note that for vehicle donations of more than $5,000 additional rules apply.  We will mail you an acknowledgment for tax purposes.

Disclosure of your TIN is required by the IRS if you plan to claim a deduction of more than $500 for a vehicle donation. 

 

Please keep in mind that Rescue Squad staff and volunteers are not permitted to appraise vehicles or to assign a value to your vehicle donation. You are responsible for valuing your vehicle. (The IRS suggests starting with published vehicle pricing guides for making a value determination.) In addition, the information provided here is not tax advice. Please consult the IRS or your tax professional for more information. As of this writing, the rules regarding vehicle donations are described in IRS Publication 4303, “A Donor’s Guide to Vehicle Donations,” which is available on the IRS website, www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS.

Maximizing your deduction

Because of IRS rules issued in 2005, how a charity uses a donated vehicle affects the amount of your tax deduction. Some charities sell their donated vehicles, which can result in a tax deduction that is less than the fair market value of the vehicle. In contrast, the Rescue Squad uses donated vehicles to directly support its charitable purpose and does not sell donated vehicles. You can therefore generally deduct the full fair market value of the donated vehicle. Note: if the claimed value of your vehicle is more than $5,000, you must obtain a qualified written appraisal of the automobile and fill in IRS form 8283 before you donate your vehicle.

The Rescue Squad cannot give tax advice on your specific situation. Deductions can be limited by other factors, and we recommend that you consult your qualified tax professional or the IRS for more information.

Determining Fair Market Value.

The obligation for obtaining a fair market valuation rests with the donor. Rescue Squad staff and volunteers are not permitted to appraise vehicles or set a value on your donation. Vehicle pricing guides or “Blue Books” provide a starting point for estimating fair market value. For further information, please see IRS Publication 4303, “A Donor’s Guide to Car Donations,” which is available on the IRS website, www.irs.gov .

How does the Rescue Squad Use Your Vehicle?

When minutes count, the Rescue Squad goes into action.

Rescue Squad crews train constantly to maintain their proficiency in rescuing victims from car wrecks. Sometimes, a car is too damaged from a collision to open the doors. In some of these cases, the occupants have sustained severe injuries and require immediate medical care.

To gain access to the vehicle occupants, the Rescue Squad uses its specialized hydraulic rescue tools to cut, pry, and rip through the metal shell to get inside the vehicle. The crew takes great care to protect the vehicle occupants from further injury during this process, which can be accomplished in minutes by a well trained, properly equipped crew.  Click here for more information and pictures. 

Once extricated, the vehicle occupants are transported to the hospital for further care. Rescue Squad crews provide emergency medical care at the scene and on the way to the hospital.

Thank you

Thank you for your generous donation. Your donation enables our crews to maintain their skills in top condition so that they may continue to serve you, your family, and your neighbors–and to save lives. Please visit our website, www.bccrs.org , and visit us for Rescue Day, the first Saturday in October, to learn more about the Rescue Squad.

June 12, 2008

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The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, Inc.

5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20814