Question re: Professional license maintenance costs for a volunteer. Are they deductible?

[Onefish]

I am a retired (from a paid job) financial professional. I now volunteer my services (unpaid) for three non-profits. I maintain my professional license including fees for courses required to maintain my license. One course I took required an out-of-town trip overnight.  What if anything is deductible? If deductible, do I use Form 2106 or take the items as either in-kind contributions or Miscellaneous expenses subject the 2% limit?

[ToddL · Accepted solution]

If you are required to maintain your professional credentials in order to volunteer services to a "qualified charitable organization" (fyi, not all 'non-profits' are 'qualified charities'), you could claim the costs as charitable contributions ("cash") and allocate them accordingly to each of the non-profits. You would, of course need to itemize deductions but this avoids the 2% limit.

(If you are not required to maintain your professional credentials, then I'd suggest the non-profits make that a requirement - in writing).