Travel costs for noncash charitable donations

[DanH]

Can the mileage (one way or r/t) for the delivery of clothing donations to a charity be claimed?

[Jesse]

I have always taken round trip but that doesn't make it correct.

[DanH]

Are you saying it is not deductible and if so can you refer me to an authoritative source.
Thank you

[Jesse]

Are you saying it is not deductible and if so can you refer me to an authoritative source.
Thank you

No I'm not saying that it is not deductible. I am saying that I have always taken the deduction for round trip. The miles there to drop off your donations and the miles to come back home. I don't have an authoritive source to direct you to to tell you I am 100% correct in doing this. Maybe it is only suppose to be one way, but I have never had anyone abuse the mileage deduction so have not lost any sleep over it.

[DanH]

One way or round trip is not the point.

I am trying to determine when a deduction of the type is a valid and is acceptable by the IRS.

[taxxcpa]

Charitable miles

I don't think you could call it a 'noncash' contribution, but it might go as charitable miles which is deductible as a 'cash' contribution.
I've never deducted charitable miles but I've had a lot of trips to Goodwill to dump off all that valuable clothing my wife buys and donates a year or two after she buys it.

[DanH]

I agree that it is not a non cash contribution.

In pub 526 it states that one may be able to deduct some amounts you pay IN GIVING SERVICES to a qualified organization.

Car expenses is one of these amounts.

The pub says that one can deduct these expenses in context of getting to and from the place where you are a VOLUNTEER.

Based on that I will not claim these expenses as the donor is not a volunteer.

Thank you for input.

[Gretel]

I don't think mileage to drop off goods at a charity is deductible. The requirement is that service has to be performed. Even if you attend a conference or get education for the charity and do not perform actual services would the mileage be deductible.

[Jesse]

Goodwill, salvation army, neighbors place - I don't recall which but one of these type of organizations offered some promotional brochure claiming that the mileage to drop off donated clothing is deductible and I have allowed clients to take the standard mileage donation for years.

Proseries software actually asks the question on schedule A this year "miles driven to deliver noncash donations". Again I don't have an authoritive site and no time to look at this moment. I don't think it's ever added up to more than $25 for any single client so I'm not going to start squirming about misrepresenting the client.

[DanH]

You are right about ProSeries. It would seem that more people than not are deducting the mileage for donors. I might as well join the pack.

Again appreciate all of comments.

Thank you

[Bonnie]

I have always deducted the mileage to drop off Goodwill donations. When I worked for Jackson Hewitt the question in the software specifically asked How many miles did you drive to drop off such contributions. This would never be any earth shattering amount that would make much difference anyway. Probably in the long run doesn't even affect the tax liability.

Bonnie