Thrift-Shop Donor Told to Slash Deduction Claim

A Washington district court has ruled that a New York woman who claimed nearly $49,000 in deductions for noncash contributions—most in the form of designer clothing donated to charity consignment shops—does not get to deduct the full amount, reports The Washington Post.

The judge found that the tens of thousands of dollars in clothes Christiana Stamoulis, an investment banker, had bought new were worth $8,949 used.

Ms. Stamoulis donated more than 100 items to a charity thrift store in 2002. “The only question was what was the value,” said her lawyer. “I don’t think the court was very familiar with couture clothing. I think the court found it very hard to believe that they could be worth that much after they had been used.”

But other people say donors of high-fashion items frequently overestimate their value.

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