Normally, contributions are deductible only if given to
qualified organization (not persons). You can go to
www.irs.gov and find the list of qualified charities.
However, if you incur out-of-pocket expenses providing
services to such an organization, such as travel, lodging
and meals and mileage (at the $0.14 per mile plus parking
fees and tolls, or actual auto/travel expenses-not including
insurance and depreciation), then your out-of-pocket costs
incurred while "away from home" for providing services to
the organization (or on behalf of the organization) are
deductible, provided there is no significant element of
pleasure, vacation or recreation. Example: You volunteer on
the Board, and there is a national convention, out of town,
the organization wants you to attend and you do so at your
own cost.

In your case, however, a strict reading would seem disallow
all of it, because you are not giving money or property to
the organization, instead you're giving it to a
person/client-so maybe, I guess, it might be "on behalf of
the organization" and maybe deductible. Then there is the
problem with the pleasure element-otherwise you wouldn't
volunteer for it, right? Also, in other areas of the tax
code, when they speak of "away from home" in context with
travel, it means away from your "tax home" ... which is
usually the entire metro area where you work (not
necessarily where you live). Therefore, in those contexts,
travel within that metro area is not "away from home."

As a matter of practice, I, personally, would take the
mileage and the out-of-pocket cost of the client's meal and
recreation and forget about my meal and entertainment costs.
I don't know if I would advise you to do that - you have to
decide how agressive you want to be.

It would be a pretty sick auditor who would not allow client
costs and mileage. How about giving a cash donation to the
organization and seek reimbursement from the organization
for client costs and mileage expenses. The whole cash
donation is then deductible. Starting this year you have to
have a cash receipt for all donations.

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You can probably deduct the cost of the meals, movie
tickets, and etc that you provide to your Little
Brother/Sister, and the mileage you incur, but not the cost
of your own meals, tickets, etc. For further information,
see page 5 of Pub. 526, Charitable Contributions, available
online at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf

Specifically, the following paragraph:
"Underprivileged youths selected by charity. You can deduct
reasonable unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses you pay to
allow underprivileged youths to attend athletic events,
movies, or dinners. The youths must be selected by a
charitable organization whose goal is to reduce juvenile
delinquency. Your own similar expenses in accompanying the
youths are not deductible."

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

Can the expenses paid by a Big Brother/Big Sister be
deducted? These would include treating to meals, movies,
shows etc. And of course mileage.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >