Q. I paid $400 to my children's school in lieu of volunteering 40 hours; is that money tax deductible?
A. No, because you receive a personal benefit from the payment.
Even if the school is a recognized charity, you cannot claim a deduction. Essentially, your cost of attendance, in addition to regular tuition, is either is $400 or 40 hours of volunteering. Choosing the cash option doesn't make it a charitable contribution. It's still the cost of sending your children to the school.
