| Author |
Message |
Bob
Guest
|
 Posted:
Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:00 am Post subject:
Expenses for Volunteering |
|
|
Several posts have pointed out that expenses incurred as a
result of volunteer activity (mileage, for example) are
deductible. But what about expenses to prepare me to
volunteer? I am in a 3 1/2 year training program to become
a docent at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. The training
involves weekly lecture series each semester (that actually
can be taken for college credit). There is a fee to enroll
in the lectures, required and recommended texts to buy,
optional extra lectures and classes that can be taken, etc.
Are these things deductible? If not deductible as a
trainee, what about after I become a docent? The lectures
and expenses will continue. And to stretch a bit further,
what about the expense of travelling to Asia, which
ultimately make me a better docent? Educational expenses
that are job related are usually deductible; does the same
logic work for educational expenses that are volunteer
related?
Bob
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<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
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<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
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Herb Smith
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:00 am Post subject:
Re: Expenses for Volunteering |
|
|
Bob wrote:
| Quote: | Several posts have pointed out that expenses incurred as a
result of volunteer activity (mileage, for example) are
deductible. But what about expenses to prepare me to
volunteer? I am in a 3 1/2 year training program to become
a docent at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. The training
involves weekly lecture series each semester (that actually
can be taken for college credit). There is a fee to enroll
in the lectures, required and recommended texts to buy,
optional extra lectures and classes that can be taken, etc.
Are these things deductible?
|
Not as a charitable deduction. If the classes are provided
at an eligible educational institution, you possibly might
qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit.
| Quote: | If not deductible as a
trainee, what about after I become a docent? The lectures
and expenses will continue. And to stretch a bit further,
what about the expense of travelling to Asia, which
ultimately make me a better docent?
|
Travel for education is not deductible, no matter what the
subject.
| Quote: | Educational expenses that are job related are usually
deductible; does the same logic work for educational
expenses that are volunteer related?
|
Job related educational expenses are only deductible after
you have attained the necessary education to perform the
specific job. Education to prepare you to work in a
particular field are not deductible as job related expenses.
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Herb Smith
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Oct 27, 2005 8:00 am Post subject:
Re: Expenses for Volunteering |
|
|
Bob wrote:
| Quote: | Several posts have pointed out that expenses incurred as a
result of volunteer activity (mileage, for example) are
deductible. But what about expenses to prepare me to
volunteer? I am in a 3 1/2 year training program to become
a docent at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. The training
involves weekly lecture series each semester (that actually
can be taken for college credit). There is a fee to enroll
in the lectures, required and recommended texts to buy,
optional extra lectures and classes that can be taken, etc.
Are these things deductible?
|
Not as a charitable deduction. If the classes are provided
at an eligible educational institution, you possibly might
qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit.
| Quote: | If not deductible as a
trainee, what about after I become a docent? The lectures
and expenses will continue. And to stretch a bit further,
what about the expense of travelling to Asia, which
ultimately make me a better docent?
|
Travel for education is not deductible, no matter what the
subject.
| Quote: | Educational expenses
that are job related are usually deductible; does the same
logic work for educational expenses that are volunteer
related?
|
Job related educational expenses are only deductible after
you have attained the necessary education to perform the
specific job. Education to prepare you to work in a
particular field are not deductible as job related expenses.
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
D. Stussy
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:49 pm Post subject:
Re: Expenses for Volunteering |
|
|
Herb Smith wrote:
| Quote: | Bob wrote:
Several posts have pointed out that expenses incurred as a
result of volunteer activity (mileage, for example) are
deductible. But what about expenses to prepare me to
volunteer? I am in a 3 1/2 year training program to become
a docent at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. The training
involves weekly lecture series each semester (that actually
can be taken for college credit). There is a fee to enroll
in the lectures, required and recommended texts to buy,
optional extra lectures and classes that can be taken, etc.
Are these things deductible?
Not as a charitable deduction. If the classes are provided
at an eligible educational institution, you possibly might
qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit.
|
Note that if for some reason, they did qualify, you will
still need an acknowledgement letter from the charity for
these out of pocket expenses paid to third parties. -
TCMemo 2003-232.
[It didn't matter that IRC 170(f)(8) says that an
acknowledgement is only needed for amounts paid TO a charity
(but lacks "or for the use of", meaning on behalf of or
incident to - the language of IRC 170(c)) - the Tax Court
ruled that it's still needed even when the money transfers
to a third party.]
| Quote: | If not deductible as a trainee, what about after ...
|
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Andrew
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:
Re: Expenses for Volunteering |
|
|
Bob wrote:
| Quote: | Several posts have pointed out that expenses incurred as a
result of volunteer activity (mileage, for example) are
deductible. But what about expenses to prepare me to
volunteer? I am in a 3 1/2 year training program to become
a docent at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. The training
involves weekly lecture series each semester (that actually
can be taken for college credit). There is a fee to enroll
in the lectures, required and recommended texts to buy,
optional extra lectures and classes that can be taken, etc.
Are these things deductible? If not deductible as a
trainee, what about after I become a docent? The lectures
and expenses will continue. And to stretch a bit further,
what about the expense of travelling to Asia, which
ultimately make me a better docent? Educational expenses
that are job related are usually deductible; does the same
logic work for educational expenses that are volunteer
related?
Bob
|
Bob -
I asked the same type of question a while back concerning my
brother who had to take for-fee lessons from a private
for-profit group before an IRS 501(c)(3) charity allowed him
to donate his time to help work in family counseling. See
the thread at:
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.taxes.moderated/browse_thread/thread/7f3a850dc9900651/9f15b8a85b578f40?lnk=st&q=andrew+brother+charitable&rnum=8#9f15b8a85b578f40
for some of the replies. Quite a few people said that the
fees for the class were indeed deductible, others disagreed.
I would check your local accountant or tax preparer for
your particular situation.
--
Regards -
- Andrew
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
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