[pianotech] Donating tunings and tax deductions

[Tom Servinsky]

John,
You cannot claim the deduction. I've been through this with my accountant on 
numerous occasions. The reason being is the tax rules don't allow tax credit 
for time or service donated. If there are materials involved, say you've 
donated a piano, then by all means you can write the value of the piano off. 
But a tuning, no.
I too donate numerous tunings for charitable events as I see it as a way of 
"paying it forward". I do this out of a sincere obligations to my fellow 
musicians and community organizations who provide well needed services.
I also donate hundreds of hours a season as conductor of a very good youth 
symphony, which I can't write off either. As I've said, I've wrestled many 
times with my accountant over this issue, and I've talked to countless other 
accountants who are clients of mine, and they are have issued the same 
statement. You might slide this one through, but it's a big red flag in the 
accounting business.

Tom Servinsky
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Dorr" <a440 at bresnan.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 1:02 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Donating tunings and tax deductions


> David Love wrote:
> I routinely donate my services to a few charity events (auction type) 
> around
> for fund raising purposes. I usually donate 2 or 3 to each event. It is
> very good advertising and, if nothing else, gets you some new customers 
> plus
> helps out organizations in need. You cannot, however, get a tax deduction
> for that. At least not a legal one.
>
> David Love
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
>
> I just called my accountant. She says that indeed I CAN make those 
> deductions. It's called a donation "in kind", and you get a receipt from 
> the organization (which I DO) and the organization must be recognized as a 
> charitable organization. So I will be continuiing to take those 
> deductions! Sometimes that kind of charity is about the only charity I can 
> afford!
>
> John Dorr
> Helena, MT
>
>
>
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