Clergy Tag

Can churches classify paid workers as independent contractors to avoid paying FICA or withholding income taxes from them?   No. Churches cannot classify paid workers as independent contractors in an effort to save money. They must follow the law. For a non-clergy employee, the church generally must withhold...

14 July, 2021

Organizations that want to apply for recognition of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code use a Form 1023-series application. Here are some tips to help them understand the process. • The application process on IRS.gov includes a step-by-step guide explaining how to apply...

07 July, 2021

If you are a minister, chances are you spend a lot of time on the phone, especially during the Pandemic. Fortunately, ministers can deduct these expenses on their schedule SE, but there are several things you have to keep in mind. First, you have to be...

30 June, 2021

It's often assumed that nonprofits have no tax obligations at all, but that's not true. Nonprofits do get a lot of tax breaks, but managers of nonprofits still need to be well-versed in the tax code to make sure they're in compliance. Although most tax-exempt nonprofit...

02 June, 2021

It's often assumed that nonprofits have no tax obligations at all, but that's not true. Nonprofits do get a lot of tax breaks, but managers of nonprofits still need to be well-versed in the tax code to make sure they're in compliance. Although most tax-exempt nonprofit...

24 March, 2021

Without volunteers, most nonprofits wouldn't be able to function. But you want to ensure the safety of the individuals you're serving. Background checks protect nonprofits from repercussions of placing unsuitable candidates in volunteer roles. For example, churches, youth sports leagues, hospitals and schools often run background...

17 March, 2021

With the current quarantine situation in many states, many more people are working from home. While most non-clergy employees can no longer deduct unreimbursed employee expenses on Schedule A, Clergy still have the ability to deduct these expenses on Schedule SE, their self-employment tax schedule. If...

27 May, 2020

Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations that together with their affiliates accepted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds of less than $2 million will be assumed to have performed the required certification concerning the necessity of their loan requests in good faith, according to guidance posted by the...

15 May, 2020

After weeks of uncertainty surrounding the Minister's Housing Allowance for Paycheck Protection Program loans, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) states in a Frequently Asked Questions report that it has approved the inclusion of the minister’s housing allowance in payroll costs for purposes of applying...

07 May, 2020

As a service to our Church clients, we are posting this article which has been copied from the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA) April 8th email notice sent to its Members. Please feel free to reach out to the ECFA with further questions and...

16 April, 2020