The Board of Directors of Faith & Learning International recognizes that certain expenses of ministry paid by the project director/contractor are part of the ordinary and necessary costs of ministry. Income tax regulations provide that an arrangement between a contractor and organization must meet the requirements of ministry connection, and substantiation, in order to be considered a reimbursement. Accordingly, we hereby establish an Accountable Expense Reimbursement Policy, as defined below, in accordance with Internal Revenue Code and Federal Tax Regulations.
Projects (1099 contractors) serving Faith & Learning International may receive reimbursement of ministry expenses for the precise amount of such expenses if:
1) There is a stated and substantiated ministry purpose of the expense related to the project of Faith & Learning International and the expenses would qualify for deductions for federal income tax purposes if the expenses were not reimbursed;
2) The employee provides adequate substantiation to Faith & Learning International for all expenses;
3) The employee submits, in a reasonable period of time, an adequate account of these expenses
A “reasonable period of time” is defined, in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines, as
“Expenses are adequately accounted for within 60 days after they are incurred.”
The substantiation of ministry purpose, for precise reimbursement, must include:
- Ministry purpose
- Ministry relationship (names of persons present at meal or meeting)
- Actual Cost (include receipt for all items over published IRS amount)
- Date
- Place or location
Faith & Learning International will retain the original copies related the substantiation of ministry purpose.
Mileage Reimbursement Rates for ministry, medical or moving mileage are to be at or below the annually published IRS mileage rates. The standard will be to set the Mileage Reimbursement Rates at the annually published IRS mileage rate. Rates set below the IRS mileage rates are to be approved by the Project Director and the President of Faith & Learning International
If funds are not available at the time the expenses are submitted, expense reports will be held for no more than 90 days. At the end of 90 days from the submission date, the expenses will no longer be eligible for reimbursement.