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UI Expand
titleFamily Expenses

Family Expenses

Travel, event/conference/training, and meal expenses related to a Reliant employee's immediate family members (i.e., spouses that are not also a Reliant employee/associate and/or children) that coincide with a field staff's job or ministry may be eligible for recovery, typically only as an ERB. When submitting an expense for a non-employed spouse or child(ren), subtract those family expenses from any other costs on the receipt and enter those family expenses as a separate expense line on the form.

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titleNon-Employed/Non-Associate Spouse Expenses

If a spouse is an employee or associate of Reliant, the spouse's ministry-related expenses should be submitted directly by the employeeemployed/associate spouse.

If a spouse is not an employee or associate of Reliant, the spouse's expenses for travel, event/conference/training, or meal attendance may be recovered through an ERB if the presence of the spouse on the ministry trip is deemed important and valuable to the success of the ministry triptaking place. If there is a bonafide business/ministry reason for spousal attendance–meaning the spouse's attendance is required and the spouse has a direct role in the ministry being conducted on during the trip, event/conference/training, or meal--the field worker may request a non-taxable reimbursement along with an explanation of the bonafide business/ministry reason for the spouse's required attendance.


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titleChildren Expenses

Children's travel, event/conference/training, and meal expenses are subject to the same general criteria as non-employed/non-associate spousal expenses. However, reimbursement of expenses for children is less common because the accompaniment of children on ministry trips is less frequently considered job-related. For children's expenses to be eligible for any expense recovery through an ERB, a child must have resided in the home for at least half the calendar year (to be claimed as a dependent on taxes). 

Typically, events/conferences/trainings that In order for event/conference/training expenses for children to qualify for expense submission recovery as an ERB through Reliant are when , the children's participation is needs to be required and where the events are the event/conference/training should be specifically geared to the education or care of the family as a whole or for individual family members.   The event Event/conference/training expenses for children would not qualify as an eligible expense expenses for submission for either an ERB or reimbursement for family member costs if the family member child(ren) is simply in childcare and not actively participating in the event while the parents are in attendance as childcare is not an eligible expense for any type of submission.

On the rare occasions when there is a bonafide business/ministry purpose for the child's attendance on the tripfor travel, event/conference/training or meal expenses with the parent--meaning the child's attendance is required and the child has a direct role in the ministry being conducted on the trip--the field worker may request a non-taxable reimbursement along with an explanation of the bonafide business/ministry reason for the child's required attendance. 

As a reminder, Reliant currently offers Child-Care Reimbursement through our Cafeteria Plan (tax-saving benefit). 


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Expense Category

Summary of Allowable Costs

Key Reminders

Bank Fees

Bank fees incurred by International field workers as they travel back to the US or other countries for ministry purposes. 

Bank fees incurred in situations where the safety of a Reliant International worker is a concern or in which local banking options are either not allowable or unadvisable (e.g., due to the secure nature of their ministry role.) 


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titleKey Details

International workers are encouraged to utilize debit and credit cards when reasonable. For suggested credit cards with low transaction fees, see International Finance FAQs.


Counseling

Counseling is not eligible for reimbursement or ERB. However, there is a counseling bonus available to International workers (See International Expense Allowances)

Short-term counseling for International workers is available through Reliant's Employee Assistance Program.

In the event of an international crisis, International field workers may qualify to receive crisis counseling for a pre-approved duration paid for by Reliant. 


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titleKey Details

See also: Stewardship of Health and Healthcare Resources



Crisis PreparationSupply items needed for crisis preparation (items to carry while traveling, go bag, vehicle supply bag, etc.) are reimbursable
Global Communication 


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titleSat Phone

This communication device is required as part of the Item Preparation International Risk Levels and will be reimbursable.


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titleVPN

A VPN is highly recommended for international workers to purchase to ensure security for website usage and is reimbursable.



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titleKey Details

Sat phones are 100% reimbursable as non-taxable due to the necessity of the purchase for the ministry and associated safety concerns related to the ministry location. 

See Encryption, Privacy, and Online Security for details on VPN


Immigration Fees

Mandatory fees paid to regulatory agencies and governing bodies. 

  • Visa Fees and related documentation, postage, photos, etc. are reimbursable 
  • Passport fees and related documentation, postage, photo, etc. are taxable and recovered through an ERB
  • International driver's license fees- initial and renewal are taxable and recovered through an ERB



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titleKey Details

When reimbursing immigration fees, please fully explain how they relate to the ministry role: International placement; leading an international mission trip; overseeing international workers; etc.

Remember to review non-employed spouse and family costs. All immigration fees and related costs (such as travel for visa runs) related to family members are taxable and recovered through an ERB.


Immunizations, Vaccinations


To the extent not covered by Reliant health plans, pre-field physicals, vaccinations, and immunizations (including oral vaccinations with a prescription) required for international placement or internship can be recovered through an ERB.


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titleKey Details

Please include a clinic or doctor’s receipt showing the immunization type and amount you paid. 

Remember to review non-employed spouse and family costs.


International MileageMileage for necessary ministry-related trips in excess of 50 miles each way (less than 50 are included in the support goal bonus) is reimbursable. When the cost of operating a motor vehicle in the international field worker's country of ministry exceeds that of the United States, the International field worker may submit ministry-related mileage at a rate that exceeds the United States IRS’s approved mileage reimbursement rate to be recovered through an ERB. 


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titleKey Details

Note that the additional amount above the IRS rate will be added as an Expense Recovery Bonus (taxable). The IRS mileage rate for the second half of 2022 (expenses accrued July 1st - December 31st) is $0.625/mile.

Info

Reminder: Mileage cannot be reimbursed for a rental car or a borrowed car

Mileage for trips of 50 miles or less (each way) is considered to be among the routine expenses covered by the Ministry Expense Bonus and should not be submitted for reimbursement by an employee. Mileage for trips in excess of 50 miles each way may be submitted for reimbursement. For example, if a field worker were to take a ministry-related trip of 75 miles each way, they could submit reimbursement for 25 miles each way (75-mile trip minus the 50-mile ME bonus threshold).

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titleNeeded for Submission

Mileage:

Submit total mileage amount (after subtracting 50 miles each way) and the trip start/end location are needed.

Be sure to also subtract any personal mileage for any side trips during business travel from the total mileage you submit for reimbursement.

Choose your desired additional mileage rate (select miles or kilometers) on the International reimbursement form.


Carpool:

The above submission rules apply, and...

If the worker is the driver in a carpool: passengers will typically directly reimburse the driver for a portion of the mileage/gas cost by calculating the mileage rate for the ministry travel. The person submitting the expense would then subtract the amount received in gas money mileage from the total amount of mileage they could have submitted on the expense submission form. In the ministry purpose on the form, add the names of the passengers and their relationship to the worker and the money collected (specify the dollar amount from each listed passenger)

If the worker is the passenger in a carpool, when driving in another person's vehicle, reimbursement for the money given to the car owner for the passenger's portion of mileage cost may be reimbursed. The amount submitted for reimbursement cannot exceed the approved mileage reimbursement rate multiplied by the number of ministry miles driven. Enter only the mileage amount that adds up to the cost submitted for reimbursement on the form.  A hand-written/emailed receipt from the car owner is required if more than $75 (please follow directions for what is needed when submitting a hand-written receipt and also include the locations travel (to/from) and the total mileage amount on the receipt.) 


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titleEligibility

Associates can reimburse any ministry-related mileage and should not subtract the 50 miles since they are not receiving a bonus through support goal submission.

Paid employees may not reimburse local mileage in any way other than through a bonus on support goal submission. If an employee opted out of the support goal request, they have forfeited the benefit of receiving reimbursement for local mileage. 


Note

Key Change to Standard: In the past, the limit was defined as 100 miles away from home (each way). The standard has changed to 50 miles each way.

Also, we are now clarifying that the 50 miles each way should be subtracted from the total mileage submitted. This is not a change, but a clarification.





Legal Fees


UI Expand
titleEstate Planning

Will Preparation-International field workers are allowed to reimburse fees related to required will preparation up to $1000 per family. This amount is taxable and can only be recovered through an ERB. 


UI Expand
titleTax Preparation

Tax preparation-Reliant recognizes that some of our field workers have complex tax situations. Thus, we allow International workers to reimburse up to $350 for fees related to tax preparation and consultation annually. However, this amount is taxable and can only be recovered through an ERB. 


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titleNotary

Notary services are recovered through an ERB.



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titleKey Details


Note

Key Change in Standard: Reliant no longer needs the field worker to collect a W-9 from a vendor (for Reliant to send the vendor 1099 for that year) if the vendor is paid by the Reliant field worker (in the form of reimbursement) and not sent payment directly from Reliant. 






Moving, Vehicle, Hardship, etc.There is a specific International Expense Allowance designed to recover personal expenses for International workers that are not eligible for submission on the International Expense Submission Form.


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titleKey Details

Personal expenses related to moving, vehicles, etc., can be recovered through the International Expense Allowance. 

Receipts are not used for requesting the bonus. The bonus can be received before the purchase of the expense.


Training and Development


For International workers pre-field readiness and training, debriefing, security training, webinars, etc.


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titleKey Details

Webinars for global workers, security training, MTI intensives, CIT intensives, Life Impact sessions, etc. 

Remember to review non-employed spouse and family costs


Professional Fees


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titleCoaching

Reliant field workers often seek outside instruction for ongoing ministry and development in their role. These may be temporary, such as during a sabbatical or role transition, or ongoing and should be discussed with the local church/ministry to confirm the coaching is necessary for maintaining and improving skills needed for the worker's role. 


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titleLanguage Classes

Language classes are reimbursable.

Add the name of the person that has been paid for this service to the expense submission form. Reliant will need to run their name through the database to verify they are not on the terror watchlist in order for the field worker to receive the reimbursement.


UI Expand
titleTranslator Fees

Oral translator fees are reimbursable. Written translator fees are typically reimbursable, depending on the nature of the materials.

Add the name of the person that has been paid for this service to the expense submission form. Reliant will need to run their name through the database to verify they are not on the terror watchlist in order for the field worker to receive the reimbursement.


UI Expand
titleTutoring

Tutoring fees are reimbursable.

Add the name of the person that has been paid for this service to the expense submission form. Reliant will need to run their name through the database to verify they are not on the terror watchlist in order for the field worker to receive the reimbursement.



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titleKey Details


Note

Key Change in Standard: Reliant no longer needs the field worker to collect a W-9 from a vendor (for Reliant to send the vendor 1099 for that year) if the vendor is paid by the Reliant field worker (in the form of reimbursement) and not sent payment directly from Reliant. 



Storage FeesReimbursement may be requested for storage costs for personal items stored in the U.S. while the worker serves at an international assignment when connected to an international move.


Eligibility
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titleKey Details
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title

To be eligible for this reimbursement, the worker must be hired with the intention of being employed at their overseas ministry location for one year or longer. 

A receipt is required for this reimbursement, regardless of the dollar amount.


Anchor
Counselor Expenses
Counselor Expenses

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