# Conferences, stipends and taxes

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conferences-stipends-and-taxes/985678>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 17, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conferences-stipends-and-taxes/985678 "2023-06-17T15:18:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conferences-stipends-and-taxes/985678/21 "2023-07-11T16:43:21Z")

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So I think that’s where my confusion lies. Costs with attending a conference on my own, I know, is not tax deductible but as a delegate for my local to the Representative Assembly I had to meet certain obligations in terms of attending meetings, voting, etc. So I guess my question is does that (under the IRS definition) mean I was working for them during that time as an independent contractor?

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conferences-stipends-and-taxes/985678/22 "2023-07-11T21:18:31Z")

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> [@glowacks](#):
>
> However, it sounds like you are not doing this as a for-profit activity as you would have gone on this trip to represent your union at your own expense. If this is the case, then none of your expenses are deductible.

Perhaps as Charitable contributions as Officer expenses?

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**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conferences-stipends-and-taxes/985678/23 "2023-07-11T21:28:16Z")

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> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> Costs with attending a conference on my own, I know, is not tax deductible but as a delegate for my local to the Representative Assembly I had to meet certain obligations in terms of attending meetings, voting, etc. So I guess my question is does that (under the IRS definition) mean I was working for them during that time as an independent contractor?

Yes, if you end up doing things that you were not planning on doing at the conference that you were willing to attend at your own expense, in order so that you could be paid for your time there, then I think that would qualify as having a profit motive, so you can use Schedule C to report your expenses against your income. You are working as an independent contractor if they’re going to issue you a 1099.

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**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conferences-stipends-and-taxes/985678/24 "2023-07-11T21:30:25Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Perhaps as Charitable contributions as Officer expenses?

Unions are generally not 501c3s, which are the only organizations to which you can make charitable contributions and deduct them on Schedule A. Labor organizations are generally exempt under 501c5 instead.

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