How to account for aircraft use for charity?

[Johnbo]

Last year I flew some hurricane Helene relief missions in my C182. I wasn’t working for a specific charity though, I just called the local FBO and asked if they needed supplies flown into the mountains, loaded up the plane and dropped them off.

Now it is tax season and I am wondering how / if I can deduct anything for the fuel and the use of my private plane from my taxes. Any thought on how to value to plane’s time? Should I just deduct the fuel costs which I have receipts for?

Thx

 

[Bob Noel]

My only recommendation is to prepare to be audited.

I commend the help provided.

 

[Brad Z]

Last year I flew some hurricane Helene relief missions in my C182. I wasn’t working for a specific charity though, I just called the local FBO and asked if they needed supplies flown into the mountains, loaded up the plane and dropped them off.

Now it is tax season and I am wondering how / if I can deduct anything for the fuel and the use of my private plane from my taxes. Any thought on how to value to plane’s time? Should I just deduct the fuel costs which I have receipts for?

Thx

See "qualified organizations" in the IRS guidance below. If you didn't contribute to one of these organizations, it doesn't qualify as a deduct-able donation.

Charitable contribution deductions | Internal Revenue Service

Understand the rules covering income tax deductions for charitable contributions by individuals.

www.irs.gov

 

[AvNavCom]

If you're a commercial pilot, I imagine you could perhaps do claim it as a charitable donation, as long as you had some records showing that your expenses and proof that it was part of a charitable operation.

If you're a PPL, then I'm concerned that this would count as "compensation" since you get a financial benefit from claiming the activity, which might open a different can of worms.

Now I have a vision of opening the front door to reps from both the FAA and IRS standing on my porch. What a nightmare! Haha!

 

[Brad Z]

If you're a commercial pilot, I imagine you could perhaps do claim it as a charitable donation, as long as you had some records showing that your expenses and proof that it was part of a charitable operation.

If you're a PPL, then I'm concerned that this would count as "compensation" since you get a financial benefit from claiming the activity, which might open a different can of worms.

Now I have a vision of opening the front door to reps from both the FAA and IRS standing on my porch. What a nightmare! Haha!

The FAA has considered tax benefits to specifically not be considered compensation.

FAA 2009 Silverberg Legal Interpretation:

https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/FAA000000000LEGALINTPR2009066PDF.0001

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

No auditors now; no audit concerns.

 

[Rcmutz]

I’d say given the level of standard deductions, would you even be able to get higher with the charitable donations. Unless you have a mortgage, it is difficult to get beyond the standard deduction. Is it worth it to open a door to a possible audit. Even if you have all your receipts, I’m sure they can find something out of wack on your return.

 

[Brad Z]

I’d say given the level of standard deductions, would you even be able to get higher with the charitable donations. Unless you have a mortgage, it is difficult to get beyond the standard deduction. Is it worth it to open a door to a possible audit. Even if you have all your receipts, I’m sure they can find something out of wack on your return.

Even though the tax law changed in 2017, I think there are still a lot of folks dutifully handing over charitable receipts to their tax accountant that never get used, as even with a mortgage, it can be hard to exceed the standard deduction.

 

[Ventucky Red]

Use this calculation to determine the benefit:

(Total Money Spent X 1.765) - (AGI squared/length of your pencil to do the math) X Audit Aggravation Factor Squared = benefit for the deduction

Make sense?

Oh! And thank you for providing your service, I am sure there are many with the same gratitude..

 

[murphey]

Last year I flew some hurricane Helene relief missions in my C182. I wasn’t working for a specific charity though, I just called the local FBO and asked if they needed supplies flown into the mountains, loaded up the plane and dropped them off.

Now it is tax season and I am wondering how / if I can deduct anything for the fuel and the use of my private plane from my taxes. Any thought on how to value to plane’s time? Should I just deduct the fuel costs which I have receipts for?

Thx

If you can get a letter from the FBO thanking you for your help and explaining your specific activities, that might work.

But I’m not a cpa.

 

[Lindberg]

You don't get to deduct the cost of doing random nice things for strangers.

 

[Racerx]

Id be happy knowing you did a good deed and leave it at that.

 

[eman1200]

Id be happy knowing you did a good deed and leave it at that.

Flew another doggo today

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Yeah, standard deduction of $30k for married filing jointly is going to be hard to exceed just with aviation based charity work in a piston single.

 

[flyingron]

Yep. I have a substantial amount of charitable work I do for a couple of non-profits. I'm out of pocket for avgas, mileage, airfare, hotels, etc... and I dump it all into TurboTax every year and it never makes a whit of difference.