@clarineted wrote:
Thank you, Vanessa A. Would they show up on SCH 1 Part II line 24z? If they don't affect the Fed if the standard deduction is taken, could they not affect the State return if deductions exceed the CA State standard deduction?
All donations to charity are reported as itemized deductions on schedule A. You will not actually get a tax benefit unless your total itemized deductions (including mortgage interest, state and local taxes, gifts to charity, and medical expenses) are more than the standard deduction for your filing status. If you list your itemized deductions, they will be available for both your state and federal return, and Turbotax will pick whether to use the itemized deductions or standard deduction based on which reduces your taxes the most.
If audited, it would be very helpful to have a letter from the church acknowledging that you provided these supplies and other costs on their behalf and were not reimbursed. The church will probably not attest to a specific dollar value, you will have your own receipts for that. But if audited, the IRS will probably want to see some kind of proof that your expenses for memorials, flowers, music, etc. were actually for the benefit of the church and not personal expenses.
