Miles Question about Church Work Prepared at Home

[j162]

I currently get a stipend from my church for a helping with music and occasionally preaching. As all the preparation for those activities happen at home, can the miles I drive to church to do this be deducted or does this count as commuting?

I feel like I'm straddling two tax situations as it is like commuting, but it is also traveling from a "home office." Thanks so much!

[DaveF1006 · Accepted solution]

To differentiate between commute miles and work miles, please review this Turbo Tax link. If your office is at home, you  can deduct miles you travel to meet with business clients or perform other business-related functions at the church. This is one of those grey areas in your return because if you visit and work at the church regularly, this could be considered your workplace and then your mileage would be considered commuting. I can't advise to claim it or not to claim it. It is a judgement call you need to make because this is a grey area.