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Subject Author Date
Volunteer work--deductions? sandybeth 03-16-2008
Posted by sandybeth on March 16, 2008, 10:16 am
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 I am retired and am contemplating doing some volunteer work at the art
museum. Other than mileage, are there any other tax deductions that I
can take from doing this?

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Posted by Bill on March 16, 2008, 12:35 pm
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sandyhb6@yahoo.com (sandybeth) posted:

>I am retired and am contemplating doing some
>volunteer work at the art museum. Other than
>mileage, are there any other tax deductions
>that I can take from doing this?

Not really. If you contribute some materials or equipment, they could
be deducted, but I doubt the art museum would need you to do so ... as
they probably will have anything needed for your volunteer services.

The standard rate for volunteer mileage is 14 cents per mile -- still
unchanged, though the "business mileage" rate has risen to 50.5 cents
per mile for 2008.

The value of your time is never deductible. That's why they call it
"volunteering."

Bill

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Posted by joetaxpayer on March 16, 2008, 12:43 pm
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sandybeth wrote:
> I am retired and am contemplating doing some volunteer work at the art
> museum. Other than mileage, are there any other tax deductions that I
> can take from doing this?

See http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/taxes/deductions.shtml
It says to me that there's little you can deduct except for out of
pocket expenses which the museum would have had anyway (e.g. you pick up
some office supplies on the way there, it's a deduction.)
It also implies the commute to the museum isn't even a deduction, but
your own personal expense. Although milage while you are running an
errand for the museum would be, of course.
Joe
www.blog.joetaxpayer.com

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Posted by Phil Marti on March 16, 2008, 1:13 pm
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"joetaxpayer" wrote:

> See http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/taxes/deductions.shtml
> It says to me that there's little you can deduct except for out of pocket
> expenses which the museum would have had anyway (e.g. you pick up some
> office supplies on the way there, it's a deduction.)
> It also implies the commute to the museum isn't even a deduction, but your
> own personal expense. Although milage while you are running an errand for
> the museum would be, of course.

Gee, I wonder if the IRS knows about this Q&A, which is incontradiction to
Table 2 on page 6 of Pub 526, which clearly states this commute is a
deductible charitable contribution.

--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< 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. >>
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<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
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Posted by Alan on March 16, 2008, 1:49 pm
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Phil Marti wrote:
> "joetaxpayer" wrote:
>
>> See http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/taxes/deductions.shtml
>> It says to me that there's little you can deduct except for out of pocket
>> expenses which the museum would have had anyway (e.g. you pick up some
>> office supplies on the way there, it's a deduction.)
>> It also implies the commute to the museum isn't even a deduction, but your
>> own personal expense. Although milage while you are running an errand for
>> the museum would be, of course.
>
> Gee, I wonder if the IRS knows about this Q&A, which is incontradiction to
> Table 2 on page 6 of Pub 526, which clearly states this commute is a
> deductible charitable contribution.
>
Regulation § 1.170-2(a)(2) No deduction is allowable for
contribution of services. However, unreimbursed expenditures made
incident to the rendition of services to an organization
contributions to which are deductible may constitute a deductible
contribution. For example, the cost of a uniform without general
utility which is required to be worn in performing donated
services is deductible. Similarly, out-of-pocket transportation
expenses necessarily incurred in rendering donated services are
deductible. Reasonable expenditures for meals and lodging
necessarily incurred while away from home in the course of
rendering donated services also are deductible. For the purposes
of this section, the phrase while away from home has the same
meaning as that phrase is used for purposes of section 162.

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< 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. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

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