Tax deductable mission work

[lbonawitz]

Am looking for advise on deductions for working with a qualified charity on a mission trip for three months

[ColeenD3]

Please see this answer by Fern.

Yes, expenses incurred while on a medical missions trip would be deductible if the following conditions are met:

• Generally, you can claim a charitable contribution for travel expenses incurred while you are away from home performing services for a charitable organization. However, you cannot have any significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel.

• You can take a charitable contribution deduction for your travel expenses if you are on duty in a genuine and substantial sense throughout the trip. However, if you have only nominal duties, or if for significant parts of the trip you don't have any duties, you can't deduct your travel expenses.

• You can deduct your contributions only if you make them to a qualified organization. Most organizations other than churches and governments must apply to the IRS to become a qualified organization.

[lbonawitz]

With regard to travel expenses,  not only did we incur airfare but we had significant in country travel via train bus and auto along with hotel expenses meals and translator expenses.  Is there a place to itemize expenses such as these?

[AmyC]

As long as you meet the rules, you will just make a deduction for charity. For your records, charity can be broken down in case of audit. These are considered cash donations.

[lbonawitz]

Yes the organization we went under is a qualified charitable entity with a base facility in the visiting country.  It was not a "quote" Medical Missions trip but rather a disabilities ministry in support of building programs with the base facility to serve many peoples with disabilities.

Thank you for your advise.

[lbonawitz]

Please come back to me with clarification.

Are all expenses related to the time on the 3 month mission trip deductible?  This includes train tickets, translator fees and expenses, hotel and meal expenses, flights, public transportation and other miscellaneous expenses.  If I understand would these all be lumped into one contribution charity with the organization under which we were affiliated?  Then we would just keep records of said expenses?  Am I missing anything else?

[lbonawitz]

If the limit of cash donations is $500.00 how does it get itemized on turbotax or do I wait for an audit?

[AmyC]

If you are itemizing deductions, the charity will go on that form, schedule A. Otherwise, MFJ has a $600 limit with a standard deduction. See TT Videos How does the Standard Deduction differ from itemizing deductions?

If your charity is high enough, you may move to itemized deductions. Please refer to Publication 526, Charitable Contributions for allowed expenses.