Volunteer deductions

[cj2minty]

My client was the adult chaperone for a boy scout troup to go to a World Conference in
Switzerland. He gave the boy scouts a check for 2200.00 and they in turn purchased his
ticket and paid for his expenses, so they were basically the travel agent.Any thoughts on the deductibility....................

[ChEAr$]

My client was the adult chaperone for a boy scout troup to go to a World Conference in
Switzerland. He gave the boy scouts a check for 2200.00 and they in turn purchased his
ticket and paid for his expenses, so they were basically the travel agent.Any thoughts on the deductibility....................

Now why on earth would he have done it that way? Sounds like he thought if he spent the money it wouldn't be deductible, but in this way, it would be respectable.

If it would be an allowable contribution if he did it all, then it is also this way.
Unless..... there was a tacit understanding that the troop would use part of that money for some of his otherwise non deductible extra activities not related to the trip. Hmm.. makes you wonder.

[gkaiseril]

Now why on earth would he have done it that way? Sounds like he thought if he spent the money it wouldn't be deductible, but in this way, it would be respectable.

If it would be an allowable contribution if he did it all, then it is also this way.
Unless..... there was a tacit understanding that the troop would use part of that money for some of his otherwise non deductible extra activities not related to the trip. Hmm.. makes you wonder.

Even if he had not paid the monies to them, it would still be deductible, see pages 163 thru 166 of IRS Pub 17. The adult volunteers cost are deductible as a charitable contribution but not the monies paid for the youth to particaipte. Also realize that this adult is donating a subtantail amount of time for which he will receive no consideration.

The adult volunteer would also be allowed travel, meals and registartion fees for a national jamboree or one of the high adventure camps even if paid to the local council.

Have you considered what it would have cost if he arranged and paid for all of this himself. Most likely this was a charter flight arranged by the Boy Scouts at a substantial discount from the commercial rate.