Pro Bono 2424 Responses

Last post: 2 years, 2 months ago | Thread started: Mar 12, 10, 9:31 a.m.

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• bzsaw

  Consult a CPA in your state for the details. In Oregon you cannot write off work unless there was a transaction. I actually had to charge the non-profit and then donate the money back to show the donation.

  I know, it doesn't make any sense.

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 11:48 a.m. – Permalink

• lukus_W

  I'm very much anti Bono.

  • (I'm ashamed at my own stupidity)– lukus_W

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 11:52 a.m. – Permalink

• gramme

  bzsaw, how exactly did you go about that? Did you invoice them and then as a line item discount your entire fee?

  BTW there are two specific clients in question. Both are various kinds of registered nonprofit. One's pro bono, the other is drastically discounted. The latter has already given me an official letter recognizing the amount of discount.

  I do understand the difference in working for those kinds of business vs. just giving it away to a for-profit.

  • Or was there actually an exchange of funds?– gramme1/3

    Yes an exchange of funds so that you can show you cut a ck for that amount. BTW the non-profit also gets educated on what you're providing them in the process.– bzsaw2/3

    ...on what you're providing them in the process.– bzsaw3/3

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 12:21 p.m. – Permalink

• gramme

  quick bump for bzsaw...

  Did they pay you the full amount before you refunded it?

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 3:01 p.m. – Permalink

• spraycan

  ask madoff!
  

  

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 3:04 p.m. – Permalink

• ethanfink

  I asked my accountant in NY, he said no-can-do...

  The getting paid, then donating idea though sounds legit :)

  • I'm dubious that would make things legit.– boobs

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 3:05 p.m. – Permalink

• nosaj

  What could you gain by getting paid then donating it back? Sure that amount would be tax-deductable but your taxable income was also that much more. It would be a wash, no different then not charging to begin with.

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 3:46 p.m. – Permalink

• lukus_W

  If you weren't paid - how on earth can you pay tax in the first place?

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 3:55 p.m. – Permalink

• gramme

  lukus, maybe I'm thinking of this in too simplistic terms, but when I give money to my church, I get a tax deduction for it. So the idea is that I donated X work which is worth X dollars. It's time that could ostensibly be spent doing paid work, i.e. it could be seen as a donation.

  What nosaj says makes sense though, about getting paid and then donating it. I think. I'm horrible at algebra. Also, it's Friday and I'm still working. Mind = fried.

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 4:24 p.m. – Permalink

• gramme

  Thinking about this a bit more... I guess it doesn't really hold up, huh.

  Pants.

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 4:33 p.m. – Permalink

• lukus_W

  Gramme, I see what you mean, but in essence through charity donation you are getting a deduction on the tax you would have paid on the money you earned, should you have decided to keep it.

  It seems quite fair that you're not expected to pay tax if you pass the money on through good will.

  • But if no money is earned it would be difficult to claim the benefit.– lukus_W

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 4:42 p.m. – Permalink

• SumWurk

  Pro Bono work can be hazardous to your health.

  • ®– SumWurk1/2

    And ur maffs.– gramme2/2

  

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  Dog-earMar 12, 10, 5:11 p.m. – Permalink

• whatthefunk

  This is how the Dept. of the Treasury (in US) answers that question -
  http://www.treas.gov/education/f…

  Under current law, volunteers are prohibited from taking a charitable contribution deduction for the value of the services they provided to charities. However, the tax code does support volunteer work for charitable organizations by allowing volunteers to take a charitable contribution deduction for expenses they incur in connection with their volunteer services, but the expenses must be ones the charity would otherwise have to incur, not personal expenses of the volunteer. For example, volunteers may deduct the cost of materials they donate for use in repairs to a church, supplies they use in leading activities at a day care center, or uniforms they wear when serving as nurses' aides. However, volunteers may not deduct personal expenses such as meals eaten during a break in a local service project, transportation to and from a school where they donate their time, or child care expenses.

  

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  Dog-earMar 13, 10, 4:22 a.m. – Permalink