2017 Standard Mileage Reimbursement Rates
 
The Internal Revenue Service has issued its 2017 optional standard mileage rates. Effective January 1st, 2017, the IRS standard rate will be 53.5 cents per mile driven for ministry or business purposes (The new rate is down from 54 cents per mile for 2016 because of lower gas prices. ). Use of this rate is optional, though it is widely seen by churches as a simple way to determine a standard rate for calculating mileage reimbursement for employees who use their personal vehicle for ministry or business purposes. If your organization uses the IRS rate to calculate mileage reimbursement, be sure to update your systems to account for this change.

Clergy always have the option of claiming deductions based on the actual costs of using a vehicle rather than the standard mileage rates.

When a church owns the vehicle driven by a staff member and uses the vehicle for personal use, the value must be added to their W2 income.  Personal use is any use which is not ministry related.  Commuting is considered personal use. The individual is required to log their mileage and provide the church with a statement showing the ministry/business miles driven and the total miles driven. 

Click here to learn more about the  changes to ministry,  professional, medical, moving and charitable mileage rates. 

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Clergy Financial Resources serves as a resource for clients to help analyze the complexity of clergy tax law, church payroll & HR issues. Our professionals are committed to helping clients stay informed about tax news, developments and trends in various specialty areas.

This article is intended to provide readers with guidance in tax matters. The article does not constitute, and should not be treated as professional advice regarding the use of any particular tax technique. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information. Clergy Financial Resources and the author do not assume responsibility for any individual’s reliance upon the information provided in the article. Readers should independently verify all information before applying it to a particular fact situation, and should independently determine the impact of any particular tax planning technique. If you are seeking legal advice, you are encouraged to consult an attorney.

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