Form 1098 C Rev November 2019 Internal Revenue Service

Use a Irs Form 8283 Pdf template to make your document workflow more streamlined.

What Form 1098-C is and how it works

Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes, is an IRS information statement used by an eligible organization to acknowledge a qualifying vehicle donation. The organization completes identifying and contribution details, provides the statement to the donor, and retains supporting records. With signNow, upload the IRS PDF, place fields over the relevant sections, assign signatures and dates, send it for completion, and preserve the finished form with its audit trail. IRS rules determine eligibility, substantiation, and tax treatment; signNow manages the electronic document workflow.

Charitable organizations

Charitable organizations use Form 1098-C to document qualifying vehicle donations and provide the completed record to the donor for tax documentation. signNow helps route the form, collect assigned signatures, and preserve the completed PDF with its audit trail.

Donors and tax teams

Donors and tax teams use the completed Form 1098-C alongside donation records when preparing federal tax documentation. signNow provides a consistent way to receive, review, sign, and retrieve the form without relying on paper circulation.

PDF workflow

Upload the Form 1098-C PDF to signNow and prepare it for completion without recreating the IRS layout or manually rebuilding every field.

Assigned fields

Place text, date, and signature fields over the relevant Form 1098-C areas, then assign each field to the responsible signer.

Signer routing

Send the prepared form to donors, charities, or authorized representatives by email while preserving the document’s original structure.

Audit trail

Capture timestamps, signer actions, and completion history in an audit trail that can accompany the completed Form 1098-C record.

Reusable template

Use templates when the organization repeatedly prepares the same Form 1098-C workflow, reducing repeated field placement and routing work.

Secure access

Access the completed Form 1098-C from signNow’s web or mobile apps, then retain the signed record with related tax documentation.

How the Form 1098-C workflow works

Complete the IRS document in signNow by moving from the original PDF to assigned fields, signer completion, and documented storage.

Upload form: Upload the IRS Form 1098-C PDF.
Map fields: Place fields over donor and charity sections.
Route signatures: Send assigned signature requests through signNow.
Retain record: Store the completed PDF and audit trail.

Complete Form 1098-C in signNow

Follow the original IRS layout while preparing, routing, signing, and storing Form 1098-C in a documented electronic workflow.

Upload:
Upload the IRS PDF.
Prepare:
Place fields on donor and charity sections.
Assign:
Assign signers, dates, and recipients.
Send:
Send and monitor completion.
Store:
Download the signed form and audit trail.

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Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	Email delivery with optional SMS verification
Signature type	Electronic signature with signer intent
Audit trail	Capture timestamps and completion actions
Document retention	Three years from filing under IRC §6501(a)
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 protection

Authenticate:

Records signer identity and authentication event.

Timestamp:

Captures date, time, and action.

Hash record:

Preserves the completed document state.

Seal record:

Creates completion evidence for review.

Retrieve:

Exports audit history with the PDF.

Archive:

Stores the Form 1098-C workflow evidence.

Connect Form 1098-C workflows to business systems

Connect signNow with CRM, ERP, cloud storage, and operational systems to route completed Form 1098-C records without rekeying information.

Security for Form 1098-C records

Data encryption:

Encrypted in transit and at rest

Security reporting:

SOC 2 Type II certification

Information security:

ISO 27001 certification

Electronic signatures:

ESIGN and UETA compliance

Protected information:

HIPAA compliance with BAA

Transport protection:

TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Form 1098-C record retention periods

Keep the completed Form 1098-C, supporting records, and audit evidence according to the applicable federal and state retention rule.

Three years after filing

Retain Form 1098-C records as federal tax records under the applicable IRS rules.

Six years after filing

IRC §6501(a) generally limits assessment; preserve supporting records for the same period.

Indefinite for fraud

IRC §6501(a) applies when income understatement exceeds 25 percent.

Three years for tax records

IRC §6501(a) provides no limitation period when no return is filed.

Longer state period

State retention rules may require longer preservation than federal requirements.

Best practices for Form 1098-C records

Accurate field mapping, complete evidence, controlled access, and authority-based retention help organizations manage Form 1098-C records responsibly.

Check every IRS field before sending

Upload the current Form 1098-C file and compare every placed field against the printed IRS form before sending. Keep donor, vehicle, charity, and contribution details aligned with the organization’s source records; do not overwrite the original PDF layout without review.

Export the signed form and audit trail

Export the completed Form 1098-C and its signNow audit trail together. The audit trail should identify signer actions and completion timing, while the PDF remains readable and connected to the underlying donation documentation.

Apply the correct federal retention period

Retain the completed form with donation records under the applicable federal tax-record period. IRC §6501(a) generally provides three years from filing, six years for substantial understatement, and no limit for fraud or an unfiled return.

Limit access to donor information

Restrict access to donor and vehicle information through role-based team permissions, controlled sharing, and secure storage. Review access periodically and preserve the final record in a location authorized by the organization’s records policy.

Risks from incomplete Form 1098-C records

Filing correction

Incorrect donor or vehicle information

Incomplete record

Missing required signature or date

Audit evidence gap

Unsupported deduction documentation

Retrieval failure

Lost completed form

Challenges when completing Form 1098-C

Donor names, addresses, vehicle identification numbers, or contribution details may be transcribed incorrectly from donation records into Form 1098-C.
A missing signature, date, or recipient assignment can leave the completed Form 1098-C incomplete for the organization’s records.
Sharing the completed form through uncontrolled email can expose donor information and separate the PDF from its audit evidence.
Electronic delivery without required consumer disclosure procedures may create a consent issue under ESIGN, 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).

Features	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	Dropbox Sign
Annual starting price	$8/user/month Business plan	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Free trial	7 days, no credit card required	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Bulk send	Business Premium includes bulk send	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Audit trail	Included with Business plan	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
HIPAA compliance	Available with BAA requirements	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified

Form 1098-C troubleshooting questions

These answers distinguish signNow workflow issues from IRS filing and substantiation questions that require review of the completed Form 1098-C and applicable tax authority.

Upload the IRS PDF again and inspect the page count before placing fields. signNow’s document editor can prepare the uploaded file, but it does not determine whether the underlying Form 1098-C information is accurate or whether the charity qualifies under IRS rules.

Check that every required participant has an assigned field and that the recipient email is correct. signNow’s routing and audit trail document who received, viewed, and completed the assigned signature steps.

Use signNow’s audit trail to confirm timestamps, actions, and completion status, then compare the final PDF with the original IRS form. The audit trail supports record evidence but does not replace the organization’s tax review.

The Business plan includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, and mobile apps at $8 per user monthly when billed annually. Business Premium adds bulk send at $15 per user monthly annually.

For consumer-facing electronic records, ESIGN requires disclosure of the right to receive paper, electronic-access capability, and withdrawal procedures under 15 U.S.C. §7001(c). Configure the workflow and disclosures before requesting a consumer signature.

ESIGN and UETA generally recognize qualifying electronic signatures, but they do not decide whether a Form 1098-C deduction is substantively allowable. Confirm tax treatment and required information with IRS guidance or a qualified tax professional.

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