How do I figure out my car expenses for charitable contributions?
If you used your car for volunteer work and weren't reimbursed, you can deduct your actual vehicle expenses or use the standard mileage rate per mile driven. Most people use the standard mileage rate method. Travel expenses while away from home usually can only be deducted if there was no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel.
Actual Expenses
You can deduct, as charitable contributions, any unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of gas and oil, directly related to the use of your car in giving services to a charitable organization. You can't deduct general repair and maintenance expenses, depreciation, registration fees, or the costs of tires or insurance.
Enter your actual vehicle expenses in the Out-Of-Pocket Expenses section.
Standard Mileage Rate
If you don't want to deduct your actual expenses, you can use a standard rate of $0.14 per mile to figure your contributions.
Enter your miles in the Mileage for Volunteer Work section.
You can deduct parking fees and tolls whether you use your actual expenses or the standard mileage rate. Report these car expenses in the Out-Of-Pocket Expenses section.
You must keep reliable written records of your car expenses.
Actual Expenses
You can deduct, as charitable contributions, any unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of gas and oil, directly related to the use of your car in giving services to a charitable organization. You can't deduct general repair and maintenance expenses, depreciation, registration fees, or the costs of tires or insurance.
Enter your actual vehicle expenses in the Out-Of-Pocket Expenses section.
Standard Mileage Rate
If you don't want to deduct your actual expenses, you can use a standard rate of $0.14 per mile to figure your contributions.
Enter your miles in the Mileage for Volunteer Work section.
You can deduct parking fees and tolls whether you use your actual expenses or the standard mileage rate. Report these car expenses in the Out-Of-Pocket Expenses section.
You must keep reliable written records of your car expenses.
