IRS Confirms It Has No Plans To Extend The Filing Deadline
The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have announced that the 2019 tax filing deadline remains July 15, 2020. Due to COVID-19, the original filing deadline and tax payment due date for 2019 was postponed from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Ministers who cannot meet the July 15 due date…
Five Quick Return Double-Checks
Are you getting ready to file your 1040 return by the July 15th deadline? Here are five quick things to double-check before submitting your return. Double check your name and Social Security number. Though it may seem common sense, this is especially important for people who have changed their name during the year or for…
What is an “Estimated Tax Penalty”?
An estimated tax penalty is a fee that IRS can charge you if you don’t pay your taxes in smaller increments throughout the year. Most W-2 wage earners don’t realize it, but their withheld tax is being sent to the government by their employer on a quarterly, monthly or semi-weekly basis. For self-employed individuals (like…
The New PPP EZ Application
I think it’s important to first determine if you qualify for the EZ PPP Loan Application before getting bogged down in some of the other provisions and rules. The whole goal of the EZ App is to require less documentation, fewer calculations, and simplifies the process dramatically for a large number of business owners. EZ…
Reopening Church – Michael Osterholm Explains How To Assess COVID Risk
Michael Osterholm is the founder and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. His 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, was recently republished with a new foreword about COVID-19. Mark Olshaker is a co-author. Podcast & Interview Link Interview highlights On anticipating a second, worse wave of…
Reminder: 1 month remains to extended 1040 deadline
This year’s 1040 deadline was extended from April 15th to July 15th, and it’s approaching fast. If you haven’t yet gotten your tax documents to your tax preparer, you may want to think about getting them in or asking your tax preparer to file an extension for you. Even if you can’t pay your tax…
Can I refuse to take my salary?
In difficult economic times, Churches must make tough decisions about what bills they can afford. Sometimes Ministers refuse their salary in order help the Church. If you refuse to take your full salary for the year, do you still need to report it as taxable income? The answer, like all good tax questions, is “it…
I work for many different churches and get paid on a 1099-MISC. Can I still designate a housing allowance?
Most ministers work for one church and receive a W-2. However, there are ministers who do not have a regular church and end up getting paid on a 1099-MISC during the year. This includes ministers doing pulpit supply and traveling evangelists. Can these 1099-MISC payments be eligible for a housing allowance? The answer is yes,…
Can I designate a housing allowance for multiple years?
A frequently asked question about Clergy Housing is whether a minister must re-designate their housing allowance every year or if they can simply enter a designation that covers multiple years. Surprisingly, Clergy are able to designate for periods longer than a single year. IRS does not specify how long a housing allowance designation must remain…
Got A Notice From The IRS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send a notice or a letter for any number of reasons. It may be about a specific issue on your federal tax return or account or may tell you about changes to your account, ask you for more information, or request a payment. Before you proceed, check where the…
