How can I deduct Volunteer expenses and mileage

[meltembarlin]

I am helping out at a local shelter walking dogs, I am also taking them to the park back and forth for long walk, additionally I have a foster dog at home that I bring to a training center once a week. How can I deduct the mileage and the expenses I do

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

If you do volunteer work for a recognized charity, you can deduct mileage and supplies for the volunteer work as a charity donation.   That being said, unless you have enough other itemized deductions like mortgage interest, property tax, medical expenses, etc.,  to exceed your standard deduction, the volunteer "donation" will have no effect on your tax due or refund.

Federal>Deductions and Credits>Charitable Donations>Donations to Charity

[jeancav7]

Are the certification classes and supplies considered Items and Stock? There are only three categories to enter these expenses under Charitable donations : Cash, Items and Stock, Vehicle use. 

[AnnetteB6]

If you had to buy supplies to use during your time volunteering for a qualified charitable organization, then you could deduct the cost of those supplies in the 'Items and Stock' category as 'other tangible property' if no other category made sense.  Also, if you had to pay for a certification class, the cost of the class could be entered in the 'Items and Stock' category as 'other intangible property'.  

See the following TurboTax help article to learn more:

Is volunteer work deductible?
 

@jeancav7