100% of church pay is housing allowance. So how do I report mileage?

by Avery S.
(Michigan)

My church is very small. Both my pastor and I (assistant) are paid housing allowances, but no salary.

Our housing allowances are less than our annual housing expenses, so both of us do not receive taxable payments from the church.

My question is about mileage driven to and from church functions, clean-up days, study time, etc..

Would we report our mileage as volunteer mileage and receive the lower mileage rate (ex. .14 in 2019 for charitable miles) or as a standard mileage as business mileage (.58 in 2019)?

Would we have to set up a schedule C for claiming it if as business mileage, and would that be an issue if it resulted in a "loss" every year?

Thanks for the great article by the way! I intend to share it with other church planters I know.