Deductible Expenses for short term missionary

[Terry Smathers]

My wife and I go to an orphanage in a Spanish speaking country several times each year.  We are recognized by the US organization which supports the orphanage but we do not receive financial support from anyone.  Can we deduct travel costs, housing and meals while we are there?  Also, we are taking Spanish language classes from a small school in country, via Skype when we are in the US and in person when we are in country.  Are these language classes deductible?

[ColeenD3]

Please see this article from the IRS for Charity Travel. Your Spanish lessons are not deductible.

To enter charitable travel expenses into TurboTax

• Login to your TurboTax online account

• Click Take me to my return or pick up where I left off

• Click Deductions & Credits (at the top), click Edit/Add next to Donations to Charity in 2017 in the Your tax breaks screen.

• Click edit (next to an existing charity) or Add Another Charity

• Click Add next to Mileage and travel expenses