Charitable Contribution question

[eremartin1]

I make quilts for vetrans and active service members that are given to them via the Quilts of Valor Fundation.  I purchase fabric spend hours cutting, planning, designing, and sewing quilt tops together.  I also have a longarm quilting machine that I will eventurally use to quilt for people as a side busines but for now I am spending my time learning to use it by quilting the tops I make and that others in my QOV group make.  I am suppling all of the materials and time as well as transprotation for this endevor and it is not cheap..  I estimate that I have spent well over $1000 for 2024 and will exceed that easily in 2025.  Here's my question, can I take these supplies (fabric, batting, thread, bobbins, bobbin cases, etc) as well as the service I had done to my longarm system off on income tax as a charitable deduction?  Can I take charitable deductions off even if I don't have enough deductions past the standard deduction?  What about my tiime and travel expenses? Any assistance in figuring out what I can and can not do will be greatly appreciated.

[xmasbaby0]

When you give a charitable donation, you cannot deduct anything for your skill, time or expertise.   Only the costs of your supplies and possibly mileage driven during volunteer work can  be entered as a donation.

Charity donations have no effect on your tax due or refund unless your itemized deductions--including the donations---exceed your standard deduction.

Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund.  The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting  tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach. (Only the amount that is MORE than 7.5% of your AGI counts)   The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you.  Under the tax laws that have been in effect since 2018, some deductions have been capped—there is a $10,000 limit to the itemized deductions for state, local, property and sales taxes.

The standard deduction makes some of your income “tax free.”  It is not a refund.  You will see your standard or itemized deduction amount on line 12 of your 2024 Form 1040.

2024 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $14,600    (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY            $14,600    (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $29,200    (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $21,900    (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

As a fellow quilter, I fully appreciate the time and effort you are making for a worthy cause.   Thank you for what you do.