MinistryCPA - Corey A. Pfaffe, CPA, LLC

Question: How do I determine "significant personal time" when I am on a mission trip? Example: I travel overseas for a mission trip and work one week full-time for the mission. The next week, I explore and vacation in the area. As a charitable contribution, can I deduct any part of my airfare, lodging,  and food during the week I worked? Or have I lost the whole amount because I vacationed? Answer: Although the terms "significant personal time" in the question are not given specifically in IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions , the publication does describe when traveling costs are deductible for charitable purposes. Here is a quote from page 5 of the publication: Generally, you can claim a charitable contribution deduction for travel expenses necessarily incurred while you are away from home performing services for a charitable organization only if there is no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel. Howeve...

Question: A pastor has requested that the church increase his housing allowance for the rest of the year. Is it permissible for the church to change the pastor's housing allowance midyear? Answer: The minister's church or other qualified organization must designate the housing allowance pursuant to official action taken in advance of the payment. The new designation must be made prospectively, not retrospectively. In other words, the pastor can claim the new housing allowance designation only on the remaining pay periods of the year.  There is often a prorated calculation that must take place when midyear housing allowance changes occur. Here is an example: For 2015, Pastor Smith's salary is $48,000 ($4,000 per month). Of the $48,000, the church has designated a housing allowance of $12,000 ($1,000 per month).  In June of 2015, Pastor Smith realizes that his actual housing expenses and the fair rental value of his home will far exceed $12,000 during the calendar...

Question: Our church pays 100% of registration fees for our pastor staff's children to attend youth camp in the summer. The children of the staff do not have to complete an application to get the full registration scholarship. Staff children are responsible for paying their transportation fee. Would the cost of the camp registration be considered a taxable fringe benefit to the pastor?  Answer: Tax-free fringe benefits are so classified based on statutory authority. To our knowledge, there is no statutory authority on this benefit based to be nontaxable. While the benefit is certainly generous and most likely appreciated by the staff families, the policy's current state leads to taxable income. If staff members are receiving this benefit similar to other families of the church, however, it may be possible for them to enjoy tax-free assistance. For example, the church could establish a scholarship fund to sponsor children and teens of the church or local community to a...