Charity Mileage Deduction - St Judes (FedEx Golf)

[tekgeek1]

I have participated in several PGA golf tournaments as a volunteer which is all connected to a charity (e.g., Fed Ex Cup in Memphis was a St Judes charity).  I drove frm VA for the event and helped raise $.  Can I deduct the mileage from VA to Memphis even as the tournament since it was a charitable event with lots of fund raising was given back?

[JohnW152]

Yes, you can.  Mileage driven for charitable purposes can be deducted at 14 cents per mile for tax year 2022.

Please see the TurboTax Help article What are the standard mileage rates? for helpful information. 

To enter your charitable mileage in TurboTax Online:

1. If you don’t see 2022 TAXES in the left pane, scroll down and select the dropdown to the right of Deductions & Credits and select Let’s get started, Pick up where you left off, or Review/Edit. 
   • Otherwise, in the left pane, select the dropdown to the right of Federal, then select Deductions & Credits 
2. On the  Your tax breaks page, scroll down and select the Show more dropdown to the right of Charitable Donations
3. Select  Start or Revisit to the right of Donations to Charity in 2022
4. Answer  Yes on the Donations page 
5. On the  Let's enter your donations one at a time screen, enter St. Jude's in the Who did you donate to in 2022? box, then select the Add box to the left of Mileage and travel expenses
6. Provide all relevant information requested 

[tekgeek1]

Excellent.  How about any lodging associated with the event?

[ErnieS0]

You can claim a charitable deduction for lodging in certain circumstances.

Generally, you can claim a charitable contribution deduction for travel expenses necessarily incurred while you are away from home performing services for a qualified organization only if there is no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel. This applies whether you pay the expenses directly or indirectly. You are paying the expenses indirectly if you make a payment to the qualified organization and the organization pays for your travel expenses.

The deduction for travel expenses won't be denied simply because you enjoy providing services to the qualified organization. Even if you enjoy the trip, you can take a charitable contribution deduction for your travel expenses if you are on duty in a genuine and substantial sense throughout the trip. However, if you have only nominal duties, or if for significant parts of the trip you don't have any duties, you can't deduct your travel expenses.

See Travel.