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You are here: Experts > Business > Corporate Law > Tax Law (Questions About Taxes) > Mileage for Volunteering
Expert: Glenn D Schnabel
Date: 9/5/2008
Subject: Mileage for Volunteering
Question
My wife is an unemployed pastor who volunteers a lot of time (and mileage) as a chaplain.
She has kept track of the mileage but we are curious about whether the compensation for this mileage will benefit us as she has no income herself against which to claim the mileage deduction.
Thank you!
Answer
Joe,
Thank you for your question.
1)When she was employed as a pastor, was she a W-2 or a 1099?
If she was self employed, she can still be able to write off her mileage and any books she paid for. She can claim herself as self employed with no income as long as she incurs expenses as a pastor. You just need to watch the hobby loss rules concerning showing losses on Schedule C. for business, the mileage reimbursement Jan 1- June 30 was $50.5 cents per mile July 1- Dec 31 is 58.5 cents per mile.
If she wants to she can always consider her volunteer work as a charitable deduction and write off her mileage as a contribution if you itemize. For 2008 it is 14 cents per mile.
Hope this is helpful.
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