Discussion:Deductibility of missionary travel
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Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> Deductibility of missionary travel
KeithTaylor (talk|edits) said: | 6 January 2007 |
| My church was invited to send a mission team to a remote village in Costa Rica to help in various ways, all involving hard work, for ten days, with only one day allowed for sightseeing. Each team member will pay about $1,000 out of personal funds for travel and expenses.
Is this expenditure deductible on Form 1040 Schedule A? | |
Michaelstar (talk|edits) said: | 6 January 2007 |
| Yes, but another way you can do this is to donate the funds to the church as a charitable deduction for the purpose of the trip and have the church pay the expenses. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 6 January 2007 |
| Michael: I had people whose children played in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. No income involved. The Orchestra took a European tour, playing in every city they visited. Members' families contributed funds to pay for their children's cost. Charity? Personal benefit? If the latter, then donating directly for a fund still benefitted their children indirectly. And the case was similar in that each member was asked to pay a certain sum, or that is the way I read this question. The work in this question is very different, I admit and I agree with JR. | |
| 6 January 2007 | |
| Substantiation must include acknowledgement by the charitable organization (i.e., the church) that services were performed and that no benefits from the trip were derived other than intangible religious benefits. | |
Mtmckeecpa (talk|edits) said: | 6 January 2007 |
| Is this addressed in an IRS publication somewhere? I always tend to see a personal benefit in these deals... | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 6 January 2007 |
| I've deducted costs for doctors to serve on the Hope Ship. | |
Michaelstar (talk|edits) said: | 6 January 2007 |
| D&T - I agree with both you and JR 100%. I have a doctor client who goes to Peru each year for around three weeks with Doctor's without Borders (or something like this) and does this through his church and it is paid for via the method I suggested above. Others besides just the doctors contribute to the function as well through the church and not directly to the doctors/support staff that go on the trip. That is where I have seen this done. But absolutely - this is a deductible charitable expense either way as I see it. | |
| 6 January 2007 | |
| Mtm - Publication 526. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 6 January 2007 |
| Yet my answer is colored by what the taxpayer is doing. In the case of the young musicians, I think there is too much personal benefit, too much of a learning experience. Your doctor, and Mr. Taylor, are not advancing their careers in their work for charity. | |
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