Four Important Church Requirements

Prepare list of all church property for insurance purposes – include item description, serial number and value Prepare list of safety deposit box contents – update authority as needed – access should be allowed by two unrelated people Computer records are backed up and password protected for security Ideally, four individuals are required for regular…

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Making A Charitable Contribution?

If you want to claim a charitable deduction, be sure the church or charity you select is a tax-qualified organization under IRS rules. Charitable purchases are only deductible in the amount exceeding the worth of the item purchased. For example, if you attend a $50 a plate dinner for children’s hospital, the deductible amount is…

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Are your church workers classified correctly?

Churches may soon face increased scrutiny relating to employment classifications. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found in a recent study that 19 percent of small business employers didn’t comply with IRS rulings on worker status. This percent may be higher among churches. We recommended that your church review and increase compliance with employee…

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Gift Giving Limitations

How much can you give before the IRS gets involved? The IRS has set the annual gift tax exclusion at $14,000 this year. What this means is that you can gift up to $14,000 each to as many individuals as you like this year without having to pay any gift taxes. A married couple can…

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Tax Tips for Clergy Moving this Summer

Tax Tips for Clergy Moving this Summer If you make a work-related move this summer, you may be able to deduct the costs of the move. This may apply if you move to start a new call or to work at the same job in a new job location. In order to deduct moving expenses,…

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Volunteering? Don’t forget to keep track of mileage.

You can deduct as a charitable contribution any mileage directly related to the use of your car and unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses in providing services to a charitable organization. You cannot deduct general repair and maintenance expenses, depreciation, registration fees, or the costs of tires or insurance.  You can use a standard mileage rate of 14…

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Can clergy living in a parsonage receive a parsonage allowance?

Pastors living in parsonages should be provided with a “parsonage allowance.” Even in a parsonage, every pastor has some expense in maintaining his or her home. The amount of the allowance may depend on several factors: whether or not the parsonage is furnished, who provides the upkeep, pays the utilities, etc. When the parsonage allowance…

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Cost of Living Adjustments for Clergy Income

With so many line items making up a clergy’s compensation package, how exactly does one apply a cost of living adjustment (COLA) to their salary package. When a COLA is given to a clergy’s salary, the adjustment is made on their base + housing.  Since housing is a fixed number, the total adjustment is added…

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Is an activity a hobby or a business

Many clergy(and their spouses) participate in activities(outside their main job) that create additional sources of income.  Is it a business or a hobby in the eyes of the IRS? The tax implications of that classification can vary greatly. Below are some questions to ask yourself when trying to determine if an activity is a business…

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