New Standard Mileage Rates for 2022 Beginning on January 1, 2022, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) will be: 58.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 2.5 cents from the rate for 2021, 18 cents per mile driven for medical, or moving purposes…
Qualified Disaster Relief Payments As the pandemic moves into a new phase and churches and offices are starting to resume normal operations, it may be time to revisit Internal Revenue Code (the Code) Section 139, an underutilized and often overlooked Code Section. It is an opportunity for churches to reimburse individuals for prior and ongoing…
What is an exit interview? An exit interview is a conversation with a departing employee about their time at the church and the reason for their departure. It’s completely optional, but some employers conduct them to learn about workplace issues they may want to address. Exit interviews can be a good opportunity to get the…
Church Business Preparations for Year’s End Like other corporate entities, churches encounter business activities that must be completed just before, or soon after, the end of the calendar year. Now is the time to make plans for these various tasks. The questions that follow can be used as a checklist for church leaders. Have clergy…
Reporting Group life Insurance Group-term life insurance, or group life insurance, is an insurance policy that covers a group of people, like employees in a church, rather than individuals. A group-term insurance plan is a fringe benefit, which is a benefit offered in addition to an employee’s regular wages. There are taxable and nontaxable fringe benefits….
Generosity at Year’s End The end of the calendar year is a time when donors often give generously to churches and other charities. Now is the time for churches to think about how this time of year can help with revenue. Many churches and other religious charities have joined in the global generosity movement known…
When does Form I-9 need to be completed? All new employees must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 on (or before) their first day of employment. Then, within three business days following their start date, they must submit acceptable proof of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. As for your end,…
W-4 Withholding Calculator for Clergy According to IRS rules, income tax withholding for ministers is voluntary. If you do not complete a W-4 form, or if you indicate “exempt”, no federal tax will be withheld, and you should make quarterly estimated tax payments. Alternatively, you can complete Form W-4 so that your church withholds a…
Ministry Mileage Documentation of expenses is vital to an acceptable accountable reimbursement plan. Pre-Covid, ministry mileage driven is generally the minister’s greatest expense. Some ministers have contended that every mile they travel is in the furtherance of their ministry – and thus reimbursable. Their contention is based upon the fact that they never stop being a…
Retirement 403(b) Plans for Ministers While it is true that ministers, and other church employees, may earn less than those performing similar jobs requiring similar skills in the secular world, there are unique tax advantages that can help offset the compensation differences. One of the greatest advantages for church workers is the 403(b) retirement plan….
