Tax Deductions and Credits Volunteering This Summer? Find Out if Your Work is Tax Deductible Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by Elle Martinez Published Jun 6, 2023 2 min read Reviewed by Katharina Reekmans, Enrolled Agent Besides donating money, one of the best ways you can support a worthy cause is to volunteer. Many organizations are limited by what they can do because they don’t have the support staff and leaders to help them grow. You can lend your expertise or learn a new skill while assisting others. While it’s probably not the only reason you volunteer, there are some tax advantages to having a big heart. While you may already know that your donated funds and goods can be helpful come tax time, did you know that some of your volunteer work-related expenses may be tax deductible? Making Sure You’re Getting the Most of Your Volunteer Work Before you start keeping tabs on your expenses, check to see if the organization is a qualified charitable organization and recognized by the IRS. While you can still do plenty of good work, to get the tax benefits the organization does have to meet certain qualifications. Once you get that squared away, which expenses could be tax deductible? Here are a few major ones: Transportation/Travel: If you have to drive or take public transportation for your volunteer work, that may be tax deductible. You can keep meticulous track of your gas spending driving back and forth to where you’re volunteering, or you can use the $0.14 per mile allowed by the IRS. If you have to pay for parking and it’s related to your volunteer work, then you may be able to deduct that too. Your regular car maintenance and insurance coverage, however, are not tax deductible when volunteering. Uniforms: If you are required to wear a uniform for the volunteer work, you may be able to deduct that purchase as well as its upkeep. However, it also must not be something you can use every day (think a t-shirt with a logo). Supplies: If you are providing supplies (maybe office paper and printer ink for the organization’s reports or construction material for a building project), then you may be able to claim them. Just make sure they are expressly for the charity. Note: If you get reimbursed from the organization, you can not take a tax deduction. You also want to keep in mind, to claim these tax deductions, you need to itemize your deductions. And like any tax deduction, always keep good records! Don’t worry about knowing these tax deductions. Meet with a TurboTax Full Service Expert who can prepare, sign and file your taxes, so you can be 100% confident your taxes are done right. Start TurboTax Live Full Service today, in English or Spanish, and get your taxes done and off your mind. File now I’d love to hear from you. What causes are near and dear to your heart? How did you get started? Previous Post 5 Tax Deductions and Credits for Working Moms Next Post Happy Summer Solstice! 4 Ways to Save This Season Written by Elle Martinez Elle helps families at Couple Money achieve financial freedom by sharing tips for reducing debt, increase income, and building net worth. Learn how to live on one income and have fun with the second. More from Elle Martinez Visit the website of Elle Martinez. Follow Elle Martinez on Facebook. Follow Elle Martinez on Twitter. Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Tax News Intuit TurboTax April Report: A Look at Refunds and S… Tax Planning April 15 is the Tax Deadline: 6 Things You Need to Know… Tax Planning Unable to Pay Your Tax Bill? Here’s What To Do Tax Tips Tax Credits 101: What They Are & How They Work Business How to Know if You Should Invest in Business Insurance Tax Deductions and Credits What Is the Standard Tax Deduction for 2023 – 202… 401K, IRA, Stocks Should You Use Your 401(k) or Retirement to Pay Off Deb… Tax Planning What Happens If You Don’t Pay Taxes? Understanding Pe… Tax Deductions and Credits Family Taxes: Take Advantage of Tax Savings Taxes 101 How Much Do You Have to Make to File Taxes? Demystifyin…