Can we deduct DMS dues on our taxes?

DMS General
1

I know it’s a strange question but is it a contribution or a payment?

Nicole aka Imjustnowdoingmytaxesdontjudge

1 Like
2

No, since you receive a ‘benefit’ for your dues, they are not considered tax deductable. However anything material you have donated can be considered tax deductable, just get a receipt (from someone other then yourself).

3

Or if you make a donation other than your dues like for example, a donation for a specific committee, you can deduct it.

4

If we could associate an hourly value on our time…oh my goodness rolling in it!
Thanks guys!

5

There may be other deductions like miles driven for volunteer work, but I’m not a tax professional so I suggest checking with someone who is before you file. :grin:

1 Like
6

See IRS Publication 526.

Dues, like Girl Scout cookies, are not tax deductible because you get something in return. Your time is not deductible but your car expenses are deductible if you use your car for purposes related to DMS. That does not include your miles to-and-from home and DMS.

I track my miles when I am functioning as a purchaser. That is, I track my miles in the following cases:

  1. Round trip miles from home to, say, an electrical supply company for parts, supplies, equipment, etc…
  2. Round trip miles from DMS to, say, Home Depot for parts, supplies, equipment, etc…

I do not track miles for stopping to purchase goods while traveling from home to DMS or vice versa because those count as “normal” miles.

Also, the mileage rate is 14 cents/mile as opposed to 55 or 57 (?) cents/mile for business/job related expenses.

I hope this helps.

2 Likes
7

Sorry. I forgot to mention you must keep records of your expenses and proof can never hurt. I use a spread sheet I created in Excel.

1 Like
8

Lol, I do standard deductions just because I don’t want to worry about keeping track of paperwork. I’m personally not organized enough to do it.

9

I entered all kinds of stuff in for my taxes this year, and then at the end the software told me standard deduction was higher :smile:

10

@uglyknees You can for sure deduct the donation you made through North Texas Giving Day and I remember you donated to that.

I believe you can just go here: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/ and ask for another copy of your receipt if you didn’t get one.

1 Like
11

Great point, thanks for reminding us!

1 Like