The materials coming out of your remodel still have years of life left in them, and giving them away can also earn a write-off on this year's taxes. The catch is the calendar. To claim the deduction for 2026, you have to donate building materials before December 31, and a free pickup is the easiest way to beat that date. Here is how the timing works and how to get it done in time.
Why the December 31 deadline matters
A charitable gift only counts in the year you actually make it. Donate your cabinets and appliances in December and the deduction lands on your 2026 return; hand them over in January and it waits a full year. For a lot of homeowners finishing a fall remodel, that is the difference between a write-off now and a write-off much later.
The federal rules for charitable gifts are clear that the contribution has to be completed by the close of the tax year. Stardust Building Supplies keeps home pickups and both Reuse Centers running right through December, so you are not racing the clock.
What you can donate and claim
You can donate building materials, fixtures, and appliances in reusable shape, which covers most of what comes out of a kitchen, bath, or whole-home project. Knowing what qualifies before you call keeps the visit quick.
A year-end donation can include items like:
- Kitchen and bath cabinets, countertops, and vanities
- Working appliances less than 20 years old
- Interior and exterior doors, windows, and blinds
- Sinks, freestanding tubs, toilets, and water heaters
- Light fixtures, ceiling fans, and hardware
- Tile, de-nailed lumber, and flooring you have already removed
If you are not sure about a piece, the full accepted-items list spells out the condition rules before anything goes on the truck.
Free pickup is the fastest way to beat the deadline
You do not have to rent a trailer or haul anything yourself. Stardust sends a crew to you across the Phoenix metro and loads the approved items for free.
December books up, so the move is to schedule early in the month rather than the last week. If you want to see exactly what the visit involves before you call, our guide to what a building-material pickup requires walks through every step. The sooner you book, the easier it is to donate building materials in time for a 2026 receipt.
How to donate building materials before the year ends
The process is short, and most of the work happens on the front end so the crew knows what they are collecting.
- Submit a home pickup request and add photos of the larger items.
- Stardust confirms what qualifies and sets a pickup window in December.
- The crew loads everything and hands you an itemized receipt on the spot.
- File that receipt with your 2026 tax records.
Donate building materials this way and the hard part is done in a single phone call and a short visit.
What your receipt does at tax time
Because Stardust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, every completed donation comes with an itemized receipt, and you set the fair value of what you gave. That receipt is what backs up your deduction, so keep it with your tax paperwork.
Two things worth knowing: you deduct charitable gifts only if you itemize, and if your noncash donations add up to more than $500 for the year, there is one extra federal form to file with your return. Neither is complicated, and the materials Stardust resells go on to fund community programs across the Valley.
Donate now or pay to toss it later
The year-end math usually favors donating. Here is the short version:
- Out-of-pocket cost: Donate by December 31: Free pickup. Wait or send to the dump: Dumpster and dump fees.
- 2026 tax deduction: Donate by December 31: Itemized receipt. Wait or send to the dump: None.
- Where materials go: Donate by December 31: Reused and resold. Wait or send to the dump: Landfill.
Either way the materials leave your house. Only one way puts a receipt in your hand and keeps good materials in use.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to itemize to deduct a building-material donation?
Yes. Charitable gifts are deductible only if you itemize on your return instead of taking the standard deduction. Your Stardust receipt documents the gift either way.
What if I cannot get a pickup before December 31?
Drop off your items at the Mesa or Glendale Reuse Center during store hours. A drop-off made by December 31 still counts for the 2026 tax year.
Picture the two endings. Book a free pickup this month, and your old cabinets and appliances are gone by the holidays, you have a receipt for your 2026 taxes, and the materials land back in the community. Put it off, and you are paying to dump usable goods and starting next year's deduction from zero. If your project is wrapping up, reach the Stardust team to donate building materials and schedule your free pickup before the calendar runs out.