Some people donate their time and efforts to help charitable organizations. In general you can not deduct the value of your time or services donated to a charity. Since the donated time is not taxable income there is no tax deduction. However, some of your out of pocket expenses incurred in donating your services to a qualified charitable organization may be deductible. For example, you may be able to deduct the cost of using your vehicle for charity. You may be able to claim the standard mileage rate or actual costs. In addition to either your actual costs or the standard mileage rate, you may also deduct your parking and tolls. For 2020 the standard mileage rate for operating your personal motor vehicle in service of a charity will be 14 cents per mile driven. The mileage must be incurred giving services to a qualified organization, unreimbursed, and directly connected to the services you gave to the qualified organization. The Winn Feline Foundation is a fully qualified public charity. Your donation(s) to Winn are deductible as charitable contributions to the fullest extent permitted by law.
-George J. Eigenhauser Jr. is an attorney at law, licensed in the state of California since 1979. He has served on the Winn Board of Directors and as CFA liaison to Winn for more than 10 years. His expertise in the area of wills, trusts and estate planning allows him to assist donors with planned giving decisions. He is also the legislative coordinator for the Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc. and has served on the CFA board for 15 years.
