Most appraisals aren't accepted by the IRS, insurers, or courts.
Ours are. AAA-accredited. USPAP-compliant.
The IRS requires a USPAP-compliant appraisal from a qualified appraiser for non-cash charitable donations over $5,0001. Insurance carriers, courts, estate attorneys, and museums require the same standard.
Most "appraisals" sold online don't meet this standard. They have no legal weight when you actually need them.
USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) is the federal standard for appraisal practice in the United States, set by The Appraisal Foundation and authorized by Congress in 1989. A qualified appraiser holds a designation from a recognized professional organization (Appraisers Association of America, American Society of Appraisers, or International Society of Appraisers), follows USPAP, and meets continuing-education requirements.
Heather Russell
Accredited Member, Appraisers Association of America. USPAP-compliant. Qualified appraiser under IRS standards.
The only AAA-accredited appraiser in the United States specializing in Japanese animation. Twenty-six years inside Japan's collectibles market.
Pricing. Starting at $250. Flat fee per appraisal product. Final price quoted after we see the work. By professional standard, appraisal fees cannot be a percentage of the item's value.
Turnaround. Appraisal adds at least two weeks beyond authentication turnaround, depending on item complexity, comparable sales research, and report length.
Authentication first. Appraisals are only issued for items that have been authenticated by Rinkya. A signed valuation is only as defensible as the attribution behind it.
Conflict of interest. Heather Russell does not appraise pieces she has listed for sale on Rinkya's marketplace. Items listed by other sellers are eligible. Standard USPAP practice.
1 IRS Form 8283 instructions; IRS Publication 561. Definition of "qualified appraisal" and "qualified appraiser" at IRS Reg §1.170A-17.
2 Pension Protection Act of 2006 added the qualified-appraisal requirement to IRC §170(f)(11).