At the Bicicocina in Los Angeles we take care to separate new parts (sales) from donations associated with using old donated parts/frames. We collect sales tax on these new parts, not on the donations for working with used parts / bicycles.

So, someone comes in and needs a new tube and a used crank. We'll charge them $5 for the tube, and suggest a $3 donation for the crank. We pay sales tax only on  the $5 for the tube, and the $3 (or whatever the client agrees to donate) is a non-taxed donation. 

We treat donated frames, aka project bikes, the same way. Donations suggested for a project bike are typically between $50-$150. It's worth noting that our project bikes are ineed *projects*. Clients typically have to work 4-10 hours to get them in safe working condition. It's pretty rare that you can just show up and find a 100% working bike.

I acknowledged that there is some careful language around all of this, but it can actually be a helpful thing to communicate to our clients given that we don't typically turn anybody away for lack of funds. (though people who come in repeatedly needing a "free bike" are effectively turned away if we suspect they are just selling them.)

M

On Fri, Jun 5, 2015 at 11:11 AM, Martin, Eric Vance <evmartin@indiana.edu> wrote:

Thanks everyone for responding. 

My question is whether, in the U.S., you call the sale value of donated bicycles a donation or business income. 

For example, if the former, it could contribute to meeting a public support test. 

Of course we pay taxes on sales. 

On Jun 5, 2015, at 11:56 AM, Angel York <aniola@gmail.com> wrote:

Assuming that you're run under a nonprofit, I think that if people give you bikes, those are donations. If people buy the bikes, I think that's a donation as well and I'm not sure they have to pay taxes.  I would call the IRS to confirm.

On May 23, 2015 7:33 AM, "Martin, Eric Vance" <evmartin@indiana.edu> wrote:

Clarification: I don't mean anything to do with sales taxes, which we pay on everything we sell. I mean, is this effectively a (cash) donation? Would it be evidence of public support for the IRS?



> On May 23, 2015, at 10:17 AM, Martin, Eric Vance <evmartin@indiana.edu> wrote:
>
> People give us bikes, and we sell them. This is our main income.
>
> Should we be treating this/reporting this as related business income or as a donation (realized FMV of an in-kind donation)? What do you guys do?
>
> We have a fiscal agent. Let's say the answer does not affect their public support test.
>
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