Deductible Miles question

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Subject Author Date Deductible Miles question JHB 02-03-2010  Re: Deductible Miles question removeps-groups@yahoo.com 02-03-2010  Re: Deductible Miles question D. Stussy 02-04-2010
Posted by JHB on February 3, 2010, 9:04 am Please log in for more thread options Hi: I am a volunteer driver, driving people who do not have transportation to medical visits and therapy sessions. I use my own car, and do not get any payment for the driving. Am I correct that the miles I drive ARE tax deductible as a charitable contribution? Your answer would be appreciated.. regards John Baker -- << ------------------------------------------------------- >> << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >> << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >> << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >> << >> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >> << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >> << are at www.asktax.org. >> << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >> << ------------------------------------------------------- >> Posted by removeps-groups@yahoo.com on February 3, 2010, 10:19 am Please log in for more thread options > I am a volunteer driver, driving people who do not have transportation > to medical visits and therapy sessions. I use my own car, and do not > get any payment for the driving. Am I correct that the miles I drive > ARE tax deductible as a charitable contribution? As long as you work for a qualified organization, the miles are deductible. You can alternatively deduct actual expenses (provided you have receipts). It's good to have a log. You can have a log that shows date, beginning mileage, ending mileage, then add a 4th column to subtract the two. Or your log can show start point, end point, roundtrip distance, number of such trips and dates of each, and a 4th column that multiplies the roundtrip distance by the number of such trips. Remember, tolls and parking fees are deductible no matter whether you use standard or actual mileage. >From publication 526: Car expenses. If you claim expenses directly related to use of your car in giving services to a qualified organization, you must keep reliable written records of your expenses. Whether your records are considered reliable depends on all the facts and circumstances. Generally, they may be considered reliable if you made them regularly and at or near the time you had the expenses. Your records must show the name of the organization you were serving and the date each time you used your car for a charitable purpose. If you use the standard mileage rate of 14 cents a mile, your records must show the miles you drove your car for the charitable purpose. If you deduct your actual expenses, your records must show the costs of operating the car that are directly related to a charitable purpose. See Car expenses under Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Giving Services, earlier, for the expenses you can deduct. -- << ------------------------------------------------------- >> << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >> << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >> << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >> << >> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >> << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >> << are at www.asktax.org. >> << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >> << ------------------------------------------------------- >> Posted by D. Stussy on February 4, 2010, 11:07 pm Please log in for more thread options > > I am a volunteer driver, driving people who do not have transportation > > to medical visits and therapy sessions. I use my own car, and do not > > get any payment for the driving. Am I correct that the miles I drive > > ARE tax deductible as a charitable contribution? > > As long as you work for a qualified organization, the miles are > deductible. You can alternatively deduct actual expenses (provided > you have receipts). It's good to have a log. You can have a log that > shows date, beginning mileage, ending mileage, then add a 4th column > to subtract the two. Or your log can show start point, end point, > roundtrip distance, number of such trips and dates of each, and a 4th > column that multiplies the roundtrip distance by the number of such > trips. Remember, tolls and parking fees are deductible no matter > whether you use standard or actual mileage. > > >From publication 526: > > Car expenses. If you claim expenses directly related to use of your > car in giving services to a qualified organization, you must keep > reliable written records of your expenses. Whether your records are > considered reliable depends on all the facts and circumstances. > Generally, they may be considered reliable if you made them regularly > and at or near the time you had the expenses. > > Your records must show the name of the organization you were serving > and the date each time you used your car for a charitable purpose. If > you use the standard mileage rate of 14 cents a mile, your records > must show the miles you drove your car for the charitable purpose. If > you deduct your actual expenses, your records must show the costs of > operating the car that are directly related to a charitable purpose. > > See Car expenses under Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Giving Services, > earlier, for the expenses you can deduct. If your out-of-pocket expenses exceed $250, you may need to get a letter from the charity confirming this. - TC Memo 2003-232. -- << ------------------------------------------------------- >> << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >> << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >> << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >> << >> << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >> << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >> << are at www.asktax.org. >> << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >> << ------------------------------------------------------- >> Similar Threads Posted Deductible miles as registered volunteer/coach for registered on-profit youth hockey club? March 13, 2008, 10:30 am employee business miles February 17, 2009, 5:59 pm charitable miles - actual gas cost March 13, 2009, 7:13 pm Non-deductible IRA question April 28, 2009, 8:40 pm Is this deductible November 30, 2007, 1:51 pm Assets Deductible? 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