Dave Says: Deductible Expenses for Volunteering?

Dear Dave,

I work as a volunteer for a couple of church conferences each year, and there are travel expenses for which I am not reimbursed. Can I claim these as deductions on my income tax, and would this include food, too, or just the mileage?

-- Joy

Dear Joy,

Yes, you can claim a deduction for charitable mileage. Absolutely.

Ordinarily, food is non-deductible. But if you buy supplies to be used at the conference or give them to the organization itself, then they are deductible, as well.

Make sure you keep a written log of the miles you drive both to and from the conferences, Joy. You’ll want to have a record of this and any supplies you buy for these groups when tax time rolls around.

-- Dave