The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) provides a way for churches to provide both tuition, books, supplies, and student loan payments tax-free through January 1, 2026. THE CORONAVIRUS AID RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT (THE “CARES ACT”) OF IRC Section 127 allows churches to reimburse up to $5,250 per employee,...
You heard the calling. You received the commission. Then you found the location, gathered your team and launched your church plant. God is moving in amazing ways and you are on fire. Now someone is telling you that you need to stop to set up HR...
We occasionally receive a love offering for our senior pastor or other staff members. How should we handle these gifts? The phrase ‘love offering’ does not appear in the federal income tax code or Treasury Regulations. It seldom appears in court cases. Still, love offerings have...
The designated housing allowance may be reflected on Form W-2 in Box 14 with the notation, “Housing Allowance.” Though not required, this reporting method is suggested by Publication 517. Or, a church can report the designated housing allowance to a minister by providing a statement separate...
Documentation of expenses is vital to an acceptable accountable reimbursement plan. Pre-Covid, ministry mileage driven is generally the minister’s greatest expense. Some ministers have contended that every mile they travel is in the furtherance of their ministry – and thus reimbursable. Their contention is based upon...
As the economy continues to expand, churches now more than ever need to possess a thorough understanding of the classification for each person performing services for the church. Knowing whether the IRS views someone as your employee or as an independent contractor dictates tax obligations...
Self-employment tax Clergy are not eligible to have FICA taxes withheld from their church compensation. In lieu of FICA taxes, clergy pay self-employment tax, also known as Self-Employment Contributions Act tax (SECA). Reimbursements from an employer of SECA are taxable as wages. However, even though...
While ministers are employees for federal income tax reporting purposes, they are self-employed for Social Security purposes with respect to services they perform in the exercise of their ministry. This means that they must pay both the employee and the employer share of social security tax...
Like other corporate entities, churches encounter business activities that must be completed just before, or soon after, the end of the calendar year. Now is the time to make plans for these various tasks. The questions that follow can be used as a checklist for...
Would your budget survive if you suddenly had to pay your volunteers for their time? Most nonprofits would answer with a resounding "no." But financial gain isn't the reason your volunteers show up to help. They are actively supportive because they believe in your organization's...