"Free Labor" in Exchange for Charitable Donations

Question:

A church youth group is going on a missions trip this summer. There a few youth members who have yet to bring in the necessary amount needed for their trip. A couple in the church has offered to give towards their trip in exchange for work around their house. How is this treated? Is this allowable?

Answer:

Our MinistryCPA experience leads us to believe that in most cases the value of the work that is being completed by the youth members is not representative of the donation amount. It often appears to us that the young people are essentially volunteering so that a homeowner will consider making a donation, rather than providing taxable, fair value services. This kind of work is sometimes referred to as a "makework proposition" (e.g. raking leaves, washing windows, trimming hedges).

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MinistryCPA - Corey A. Pfaffe, CPA, LLC

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