Can Freelancers Write off the Value of Time for Charity?
Can Freelancers Write off the Value of Time for Charity? Friday May 1, 2009 Freelance professionals often have non-profits and charities as clients. Oftentimes the freelancer will agree to work for free because they believe in the work the non-profit is doing and want to cut them a break on their fees. So the question naturally arises, “Is freelance work done for charity deductible?” (This interesting question was sent to me by a reader via twitter.) The short answer is no. The IRS explains in Publication 526 that “You cannot deduct the value of your time or services, including… [t]he value of income lost while you work as an unpaid volunteer for a qualified organization.” However, there’s an alternative strategy that freelancers might consider. The freelancer could charge the non-profit for their services, and then turn around and make a tax-deductible contribu
