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Gifts Paid as Part of Expense Reimbursement Plan

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Question:

 Are reimbursements for gifts of a non-religious or benevolent nature allowed under an accountable reimbursement plan for a church? For example, could a pastor who purchases flashlights for the members of a Sunday School class be reimbursed?
Answer:

 Gifts are a normal business expense, and are clearly addressed by IRS Publication 463: "If you give gifts in the course of your trade or business, you can deduct all or part of the cost." As such, they are allowable as expenses to be reimbursed if they satisfy the requirements of that publication. However, according to the publication, "You can deduct no more than $25 for business gifts you give directly or indirectly to each person during your tax year."

For more details, see  IRS Publication 463.
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