It’s fall. It’s cold. Pumpkin spice is everywhere.
You might ask “Can I write off my Starbucks coffee?”
Here’s the deal — the IRS doesn’t care how much caffeine it takes to get through Sunday. Your morning latte on the way to the office? Not deductible. That’s personal.
But when that coffee comes with a ministry conversation, things change.
When Coffee Does Count:
If the purpose of the meeting is clearly church or ministry-related — like…
- Talking vision with a board member,
- Counseling a couple, or
- Interviewing a new volunteer —
then yes, that cup can be reimbursed tax-free through the church’s accountable reimbursement plan (with a receipt and short note on the purpose).
Example note: “2/10/25 – Starbucks – Meeting with missions team about outreach.”
**We’ve talked about the importance of an accountable reimbursement plan before**
Simple Rule of Thumb:
If the coffee helps you do ministry, it counts.
If it just helps you wake up for ministry, it doesn’t.
Now can you make your youth pastor pick you up every morning to “discuss ministry” while in the coffee drive through? I think the Lord would frown on that plan.
Having a clear reimbursement policy keeps things clean, compliant, and tax-free for everyone.
Need help setting up an accountable reimbursement plan for your pastors and staff?
Email us — we’ll send you a free sample policy you can customize for your church.