my usual research sources, but I figure CB has a bunch of tax preparers who probably have a lot of experience with senior missionary tax prep.

It's actually pretty surprising, living in Idaho with about an 80% LDS client base, that I've not encountered the issue of senior missionaries before. Guess my client base is too young.... or too self consumed .

The church sends them a letter referencing "potential deductions ... in respect to unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses you paid incident to your service". Based on my experience, I would have guessed this would include travel and perhaps incidentals like the cost of scripture markers, etc, but my quick research would indicate transportation, vehicle, lodging, and meals.

So, the question becomes what is "incidental to their church service", especially as it relates to meals. Business meals are easy to define - have to have a business purpose. But are all meals during an 18 month mission deductible, purely because they are taking place during the period of service for the Church? Obviously, if they take a day to go to Disneyland, those expenses would be excludable, but I'm talking about during their periods of daily service.

And if I may be so bold, what about groceries?

TIA