According to the IRS, how long to keep a document depends on the action, expense or event recorded by the document. Generally, keep records that support an item of income, deduction or credit shown on the tax return until the period of limitations for that tax return runs out. The IRS has provided the following…

A quid pro quo contribution is one that is made by a donor in exchange for goods or services. In some cases, contributions may include a quid pro quo contribution and a true contribution, e.g., a ticket for an event that includes a meal. A church or religious organization must provide a written statement to…

The IRS is warning people to beware of a new scam linked to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), where fraudsters call to demand an immediate tax payment through a prepaid debit card. This scam is being reported across the country, so taxpayers should be alert to the details. In the latest twist, the…

Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements are now an easier and more cost-effective option for the church to reimburse employees for the cost of individual insurance plans on a pre-tax basis. If you are a small church (less than 50 employees and not subject to ACA coverage requirements) and you do not offer a group health…

There should be clear separation of duties between those responsible for handling and recording the income of the congregation and those responsible for handling the disbursements of the congregation. A strong system of internal controls safeguards the assets of the congregation and protects the character of the individuals handling cash or writing checks. The congregation…

Question: We want to hire an administrative assistant. Can we classify this person as an independent contractor during a 90-day try-out period and then, if they work out, hire them as a full-time employee at the end of the 90 days? Answer: It’s highly unlikely that an administrative assistant would meet the criteria for classification…

The church can structure benevolence payments either as tax deductible contributions or nondeductible contributions. The most difficult kind of benevolence contribution is a contribution that designates a specific recipient. The designation may be in writing, on a envelope accompanying the contribution, in a letter, fundraiser, or even oral. Ordinarily designated contributions to a benevolence fund…

Churches are required to classify each person that is hired as either a secular or clergy employee. This is a very crucial step in the hiring process. Clergy are taxed differently than secular employees and this treatment is mandated by law. It isn’t optional, so it is important to know who qualifies as secular or…

Let’s face it. Managing church payroll – and the avalanche of payroll regulations – means you’re under a lot of scrutiny, and you have to get it right. Each year sixty percent of the church W-2 forms are reported with errors. This is created by the lack of understanding of the reporting requirements of taxable…

When a church covers ministry related expense using an allowance or a non-accountable reimbursement, all those payments must be included with taxable salary on an employee’s W-2 and reported as taxable income. A non-accountable plan is a policy where the church pays a fixed amount each pay period and does not meet all the requirements…