Mileage Deduction for Volunteers Won’t Change in 2009

People who drive their own vehicles as part of their volunteer work for charities will not be getting any extra tax incentives for their efforts in 2009.

The Internal Revenue Service, in its newly released list of 2009 standard mileage rates, said volunteers could take a deduction of 14 cents a mile on their federal taxes.

The rate is fixed by law. Congress had been considering legislation that would have increased the rate to compensate for increases in fuel prices.

But those efforts have stalled.

According to the IRS, taxpayers are eligible to deduct 55 cents per mile for business miles driven and 24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes.

Do you think Congress should increase the mileage rate for charity volunteers? Click on the comments link below this post to share your thoughts.