"DORFM...[at]aol.com (Linda Dorfmont)" <DORFM...[at]aol.comwrote:

- quote -

Many thanks, Linda. I hadn't considered that the usual trip
on Sunday is not deductible. Is that because it's assumed
he'd be going to church even if he weren't performing the
duties of a deacon at our two services?

And just to be sure: Can we deduct the cost of his travel to
meetings of diocesan committees to which he has been
appointed? Or to meetings with a deacon school student he
has agreed to mentor?

Cynthia

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"C Cheski" <cche...[at]gmail.com> wrote:

- quote -

Ah, deacons. )-( I am just working on my deacon client's
tax mess he created for his grandson. Our deacon does get
reimbursed for various expenses he incurs while performing
his duties. We put the whole mess on Sch. C since that is
his only occupation. In your case, deduct all the expenses
incurred in donating services to your church on Sch. A. Any
trip to the church or to visit a parishioner other than the
usual trip on Sunday would be deductible mileage. When using
public transportation, the actual cost can be used.
Vestments are the same as uniforms for volunteer work. Their
cleaning is also deductible. Don't forget books and other
publications, travel to area conferences, additional
training and education, and office supplies.

Linda Dorfmont E.A., CFP, CSA

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Publication 526 (Charitable Contributions), page 5, has a
paragraph about deductions available to a permanent church
deacon. My husband is such a deacon in the Episcopal
church.

Does anyone know if the cost of vestments mentioned in the
IRS pub includes the dry cleaning of such vestments?

Would we use the next paragraph on that page, "Car
expenses," to figure the cost of auto transportation
required in order to serve as an ordained deacon? He also
occasionally uses taxis and public transportation to get to
church. I'm assuming that he should get receipts from the
cab driver and simply keep track of bus or L fares
throughout the year.

Episcopal deacons are not paid a salary, and none of these
expenses is reimbursed by the parish, diocese, or national
church.

We've already filed for 2006 and received our refund, and
I'm not interested in amending, but we'd like to know what
to start tracking for next year. (We have sufficient
deductions to itemize on Schedule A.)

Many thanks,

Cynthia Cheski
Chicago

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