Ask for high upfront "processing" or "appraisal" fees before the donation is accepted.

: For a tax deduction over $5,000, the IRS requires a qualified appraisal performed by a professional. You cannot simply use the original purchase price or an estimate from a website.

Guarantee a specific tax deduction amount before seeing the property.

: For those who cannot sell their unit, donation provides a legal way to transfer the title and end the contract. Warning Signs & Scams

Claim that the donation is "100% tax-deductible" without explaining IRS limitations.

: Donors may be able to deduct the fair market value (not the purchase price) of the timeshare on their federal tax return. Note that the fair market value on the resale market is often significantly lower—sometimes as low as $1—than the original price.

The timeshare exit industry is rife with "donation" scams. Be wary of organizations that: