You can automatically issue tax receipts to auction winners if their winning bid exceeds the item’s fair market value. This article explains how to enable that setting and ensure everything is configured properly.
When Are Tax Receipts Allowed for Auction Items?
Tax receipts can be issued automatically for both silent and live auction items—if the winning bid meets the required threshold:
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Canada: The winning bid must be 125% or more of the item’s value (CRA regulation)
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United States: The winning bid must be 100% or more of the item’s value (IRS regulation)
How to Enable Tax Receipting for Auction Items
First, make sure that tax receipting is enabled and set up for your fundraiser.
Follow this article on How to Set up Tax Receipts
Once tax receipting is active:
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Go to your Fundraiser Builder
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Select Silent and Live Auctions > Edit Auction Items
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Click the pen icon to edit the item you want to enable tax receipting for
In the item settings:
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Scroll down and check the box that says:
“Send tax receipt if item sale price is 125%+ of value” (or 100%+ in the U.S.)
When enabled:
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If a winning bidder pays more than the set threshold, Trellis will automatically generate and send a tax receipt
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The receipt will include only the eligible portion—the amount paid above the item’s fair market value
Important Notes
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Tax receipts will only generate if the purchaser has a mailing address on file. If the address is missing, the system will fail to generate the receipt. You’ll need to:
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Collect the missing address
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Edit the checkout record
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Manually generate and send the tax receipt
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Need Help?
Did that answer your question? If not, please reach out to our Product Engagement Team via the blue chat icon or email support@trellis.org.