How can volunteering benefit your community and lower your taxes?

Answer 1

Volunteering is great for your community and for making you feel good. It does not help you on your taxes though. Before you start talking about what someone told you let me give you advice. You cannot take a deduction for your time or labor on money you never received. The only deduction you can take I for money or in-kind donations of goods that you purchase and give to a certified 501(3)(c) business registered as non-profit with the IRS.

Answer 2

Local government officials can examine the human assets available to them in their community, and encourage participation. These human assets may come in the form of individuals or organizations. In a small town, it could be an act as simple as asking a high school English teacher to review a grant application. Find groups with a vested interest in the outcomes of the city to work to better the community. Use their creativity and enthusiasm to make positive changes within the community. At the same time, start building frameworks for average citizens to become involved within the city. Encourage neighborhoods to come together in neighborhood associations, precincts, or other small areas to improve their part of the city.

The use of reliable and consistent volunteers makes providing a safe and pleasant environment more attainable for city officials as their resources are effectively stretched to do more with less. Plus, increased trust through social capital decreases the capital and labor required to administer judicial and law enforcement duties.