Tax Experts........"volunteer work"

[mom2grace]

Can you deduct hours worked for a not for profit organization that you are not paid for?

I am beginning 2 new stints this year. The first is as a board member and secretary for a neighborhood association in a historic neighborhood of a major city. I am doing a lot of work with city government entities on behalf of the residents.

The second is as a commissioner for our church. I will be coordinating a capital campaign, last time we raised almost 2 million dollars.

I get paid for none of this, which is fine with me. But, now that I see the time I will be putting into this, I wondered if it would "count". We do deduct our financial contributions, as well as goods we donate. (We itemize deductions, our total family income is under $100K if that matters)

Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

I am pretty sure you can't deduct hours worked. You can deduct mileage on your car for volunteer work though.

 

[Bob Slydell]

golfgal's right -- you can't deduct hours given to a charity:

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc506.html

Although you cannot deduct the value of your time or services, you can deduct the expenses you incur while donating your services to a qualified organization. If the expenses are for travel, which may include transportation and meals and lodging while away from home, they may be deducted only if there is no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel. Actual costs of gas and oil can be deducted, or you can choose to take 14 cents per mile for using your own car.