In the IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2014-06, it discussed the tax tips associated with travelling for a charity.  The IRS directed the tax tips to taxpayers that plan to donate services to charity this summer, such as travel as part of the service.

The IRS disclosed five tax tips to assist with using the travel expenses to help lower taxes when filing the tax return for 2014.

1. A taxpayer cannot deduct the value of your services that is provided to charity.  the taxpayer may be able to deduct some out-of-pocket costs paid to provide the services.  This can include the cost of travel.

The out-of pocket costs must be:

• unreimbursed,

• directly connected with the services,

• expenses you had only because of the services you gave, and

• not personal, living or family expenses.

2. The volunteer work must be for a qualified charity. Most groups other than churches and governments must apply to the IRS to become qualified.  Ask the group about its IRS status before donating services that include out-of-pocket expenses. The Select Check tool on IRS.gov can be used to check a charity’s IRS status.

3. Some types of travel do not qualify for a tax deduction. For example, a taxpayer cannot deduct costs if a significant part of the trip involves recreation or a vacation.

4. A taxpayer can deduct travel expenses if the work is real and substantial throughout the trip.  But the expenses may not be deducted if the taxpayer only has nominal duties or does not have any duties for significant parts of the trip.

5. Deductible travel expenses may include:

• air, rail and bus transportation,

• car expenses,

• lodging costs,

• the cost of meals, and

• taxi or other transportation costs between the airport or station and your hotel.

Due to a number of recent changes in the law, taxpayers are currently facing many questions connected to important issues such as healthcare, home office use, capital gains, investments, and whether an individual is considered an employee or a contractor. Financial advisors are continually looking for updated tax information that can help them provide the right answers to the right people at the right time. This book provides fast, clear, and authoritative answers to pressing questions, and it does so in the convenient, timesaving, Q&A format for which Tax Facts is famous.

Anyone interested can try Tax Facts on Individuals & Small Business, risk-free for 30 days, with a 100% guarantee of complete satisfaction.  For more information, please go to www.nationalunderwriter.com/TaxFactsIndividuals or call 1-800-543-0874.