While the federal income tax-filing deadline has passed for most people, some clergy haven’t filed their 2019 tax returns yet.
If you’re entitled to a refund, there’s no penalty for filing late. Penalties and interest will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid tax due as of July 16, 2020.
Anyone who didn’t file and owes tax should file a return as soon as they can and pay as much as possible to reduce penalties and interest. You should review your payment options. In addition, the IRS has information for clergy who can’t pay taxes they owe.
Filing soon is very important because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty on unpaid taxes will add up quickly. However, in some cases, you may qualify for penalty relief. For those charged a penalty, they may contact the IRS by calling the number on their notice and explain why they couldn’t file and pay on time.
Additionally, clergy who have a history of filing and paying on time often qualify for administrative penalty relief. You may qualify if you have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other requirements. For more information, see the first-time penalty abatement page
Do you still need to file?
Since 1980, the tax service division of Clergy Financial Resources has provided individual tax consulting and services to religious professionals in all 50 states. If you are looking for a tax service that specializes in clergy tax law, you have come to
- Learn how to get started – Read
Each year, we publish a Clergy Tax Organizer, which is designed to be used as a learning tool and reference guide. This organizer will assist you in gather the information needed to prepare your current return. You can get started with the steps listed below.
- Clergy Tax Organizer – Order and complete
- State worksheet – Download and complete
We suggest you review the entire Clergy Tax Organizer and state worksheet and answer all the questions that apply to you. Your return will be prepared primarily from this data.
When your organizer and worksheet are completed, please upload, mail, or fax your tax material to us along with all your supporting documents (i.e. 2018 tax return, W-2’s, 1099 forms, and any other record of income).
< Back
Clergy Financial Resources serves as a resource for clients to help analyze the complexity of clergy tax law, church payroll & HR issues. Our professionals are committed to helping clients stay informed about tax news, developments and trends in various specialty areas.
This article is intended to provide readers with guidance in tax matters. The article does not constitute, and should not be treated as professional advice regarding the use of any particular tax technique. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information. Clergy Financial Resources and the author do not assume responsibility for any individual’s reliance upon the information provided in the article. Readers should independently verify all information before applying it to a particular fact situation, and should independently determine the impact of any particular tax planning technique. If you are seeking legal advice, you are encouraged to consult an attorney.
For more information or if you need additional assistance, please use the contact information below.
Clergy Financial Resources
11214 86th Avenue N.
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Tel: (888) 421-0101
Fax: (888) 876-5101
Email: clientservices@clergyfinancial.com