elidajacobs wrote:We have a couple that went to France on a missions trip and spent $1400 of their own money on place tickets, etc. Is there a way to reflect this on their contribution stmt w/o having money come into contributions from them??? Thank you - Elida Jacobs
Elida,
I'm fairly sure that under IRS rules, these funds were directly in support of these same individuals. They cannot take a deduction on something that benefited them, even if in support of a mission trip.
Now if the church reimbursed them for the costs, and then they contributed that money back to the church as support for regular operations or missions, then they can deduct the money.
Nor can they take a deduction based on giving non-monetary gifts, as I believe these are above the limit.
I would have them talk to a tax professional, and next time, have the church pay for the trip out of mission funds that support every mission, and have them contribute to that as a general contribution.
(Opinion mode on) FWIW ... if the IRS were to look deep into their tax deduction, and see a mission trip to France, I suspect that they would flag that return for an audit.
(Opinion mode off)