Donating a tractor is straightforward, but a lot of donors call us with the same questions: what paperwork do I need, how does pickup work, what does my tax receipt look like, and how long does the whole thing take? This is the full process, end to end.
Step 1: Gather the basic equipment information
Before you submit a donation request, it helps to have a few details on hand. None of this needs to be perfect — close estimates are fine:
- Make and model — John Deere 4440, Farmall H, Massey Ferguson 165, Kubota L3301, etc.
- Year if you know it (often stamped on the serial number plate)
- Running condition — runs and drives, starts but doesn't move, stuck engine, parts only
- Hours on the meter if applicable
- Attachments included — loaders, mower decks, plows, balers, discs, etc.
- Pickup location and accessibility (in a barn, in a field, on a trailer, roadside)
If you don't have a serial number or can't find the model designation, photos work too. Our intake team handles tractors of every era and we can usually identify the equipment from a clear picture of the tractor and the dash or hood.
Step 2: Locate the title or ownership document
Most states do not require a separate title for farm tractors the way cars require one, but you'll typically need some proof of ownership. Common documents donors provide:
- The original bill of sale (from when you bought the tractor)
- A farm equipment title if your state issues one
- An auction receipt or dealer purchase paperwork
- A simple notarized bill of sale or affidavit of ownership (we can provide a template)
If the tractor came with the farm and you've never had paperwork on it, that's common — we'll help you put together a chain-of-ownership statement that works for our records and yours.
Step 3: Submit your donation request
Call 1-888-324-2772 or fill out the donation form on the homepage. The form asks for the equipment details, your contact info, and the pickup address. Most donations get a callback or confirmation within one business day. There is no obligation at this stage — we'll discuss the equipment, the pickup logistics, and give you a realistic timeline before anything moves.
Ready to start?
Donate A TractorStep 4: We arrange equipment pickup
Tractors are heavier and larger than typical donated vehicles, so our transport coordination is built around that. Pickup logistics depend on equipment size:
- Compact and utility tractors — flatbed transport, often single-trip pickup
- Mid-size and large farm tractors — flatbed or lowboy depending on weight and dimensions
- Combines and large harvesters — specialized hauling, sometimes multi-piece (the corn head or grain head may travel separately)
- Skid steers and compact loaders — standard flatbed
We cover the entire cost of transport regardless of equipment size or distance. You don't pay anything out of pocket — not to us, not to the hauler. Pickup is scheduled around your availability and the equipment's accessibility. We've picked up tractors out of fields with no road access (with the donor's tractor or our hauler's winch), out of barns that took some maneuvering, and from storage lots that had been forgotten about for years.
Step 5: Equipment moves to auction
Once your equipment is picked up, it goes to one of our partner auction yards. Farm equipment auctions happen continuously across the country — typically your tractor will be cataloged, photographed, and sold within 60 to 90 days of pickup. The auction price is the figure that drives your tax receipt.
Farm equipment generally sells well at auction. Even tractors with cosmetic rough condition find buyers — the active market for both working tractors and restoration projects keeps demand steady. Vintage tractors (Farmall, Allis-Chalmers, Oliver, Ford, Massey Harris) often draw strong bids from collectors. Modern equipment with hours on the meter sells to working farmers and dealers. Combines and large equipment go to commercial operations or equipment brokers.
Step 6: Tax receipt arrives
After your equipment sells, you receive an IRS-compliant tax receipt within 45 days of the sale. The receipt includes the sale price, the date of donation, the date of sale, Salute Veterans Inc.'s 501(c)(3) determination details, and the EIN (84-2016237). For equipment that sells above $500, the receipt includes additional documentation required for higher-value charitable deductions. For donations over $5,000, the qualified appraisal process is handled through the donation program — you don't need to arrange one separately.
We cover the IRS deduction rules in detail in our Tractor Donation Tax Deduction Guide.
Typical timeline, start to finish
- Day 1: You submit a donation request (online form or phone call)
- Day 1-3: Intake team reviews and confirms — pickup gets scheduled
- Day 7-30: Equipment is picked up
- Day 30-90: Equipment is cataloged and sold at auction
- Day 75-135: Tax receipt arrives in the mail
Donors in major farming states see fastest turnaround on pickup — equipment in Iowa, Kansas, and Ohio often gets loaded within two weeks because our hauler fleet runs those routes routinely. Remote pickup locations take a bit longer but still get scheduled.
What if my tractor doesn't run?
Non-running tractors are accepted on the same terms as running equipment. We've taken tractors that hadn't started in 30 years, tractors with seized engines, tractors stripped for parts. As long as the equipment is accessible to a flatbed and you have ownership documentation, it qualifies. See our guide to donating non-running tractors for more.