While not a charitable donation credit, the new search and rescue volunteer tax credit is an acknowledgement of time donated to an important cause. The base for calculation of this new non-refundable federal credit, which took effect in 2014, is $3,000, so at the 15% federal credit rate it has a value of $450. The credit is available to those with at least 200 certified annual volunteer ground, air, and marine search and rescue hours. There is no prorated credit for someone who volunteers less than 200 hours in the year; it’s all or nothing. This credit cannot be claimed in addition to the volunteer firefighter tax credit, so where a taxpayer provides both types of volunteer services they will claim one credit or the other (both have the same value).
