How to Survive an IRS Audit
An IRS audit can be a very frustrating process. With that said, it is important to understand that it is nothing personal. In other words, it is not as if this particular IRS agent singled you out and decided he or she wanted to audit you. Therefore, try to stay calm and keep in mind…
Strategic Management of Vacation Requests
You want to support employees by providing the opportunity for work/life harmony, but you also have a church to run. Sometimes it is difficult to juggle multiple vacation requests around popular vacation times, especially during the summer months and other holiday times throughout the year. Below we have provided a few tips, suggestions and best…
Advantages of a Premium Only Plan
If your employees pay a portion of their group insurance premiums, you may be able to reduce your payroll taxes, and give workers a little extra in their checks each and every payroll, by setting up premium only plan (POP) through payroll deductions for their share of insurance premiums. The Section 125 POP program is a…
Is it Vacation or Paid Time Off?
Traditionally, churches had offered separate paid time off benefits to employees, such as paid vacation, sick leave and personal days. However, in the past decade, many churches have moved to a more flexible Paid Time Off or “PTO” benefit that incorporates all policies into one all-inclusive PTO plan. The debate as to whether churches benefit…
2018 Brings Change to 529 College Savings Plans
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in December 2017, allows families to use 529 plans to pay for up to $10,000 in tuition expenses at elementary or secondary public, private or parochial schools. The changes became effective January 1, 2018. 529 plans offer tax-free earnings growth and tax-free withdrawals when the…
When do I use Form W-9?
When a church hires a worker, one of the initial decisions that must be made is whether to treat the worker as clergy, non-clergy employee or contractor. This decision may seem insignificant, but it has huge implications when it comes to payroll. When you hire a new employee, you need to fill out paperwork to…
What To Do If You Get a Notice From the IRS
Every year, the IRS sends millions of letters and notices to taxpayers for various reasons. There are many different types of notices issued by the IRS — depending on the notice you receive, you may have a range of options for responding. If you have not filed an income tax return for at least one year, the…
Tips for Filing a Late Tax Return
It is recommended that you file any tax returns that are due, whether or not you can pay your tax liability in full. The longer you wait to file, the higher your late fees and interest charges will be. Filing a tax return on time is always your best option. There are numerous problems that…
Are all ministers treated as self-employed for social security purposes?
Ministers have what is commonly referred to as “dual tax status.” For federal income tax purposes, a minister is generally treated as a common law employee. For payments into Social Security, the minister is always self-employed. This is an IRS regulation and not an election. Services that a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister performs in…
Important Tax Deadlines and Dates
April 17, 2018 2017 Individual Tax Returns Due E-file or postmark your individual tax returns by midnight April 18, 2018. 2017 Tax Extension Form Due Need more time to prepare your tax return? File your request for a tax extension by April 17 to push your tax deadline back to October 15, 2018. Clergy Financial Resources now…
