Is Clergy Auto Allowance taxable?
An auto or gas allowance is a cash payment given to you each pay period by the church for the purpose of covering your automobile ministry expenses. When you receive an auto allowance, it is considered taxable “compensation” and included with your wages reported in Box 1 on Form W-2. Federal tax law allows you…
Benevolence Funds
Benevolence gifts are given to needy individuals or families. Benevolence gifts made directly by a donor to needy individuals are not deductible. To qualify for a charitable deduction, contributions must be made to a qualified organization.
Which organizations can receive deductible charitable contributions.
You can ask any organization whether it is a qualified organization, and most will be able to tell you. Or go to IRS.gov. Click on “Tools” and then on “Exempt Organizations Select Check” (www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Exempt-Organizations-Select-Check). This online tool will enable you to search for qualified organizations.
5 Tips for Taxpayers Who Travel for Charity Work
Do you plan to travel while doing charity work this summer? Some travel expenses may help lower your taxes if you itemize deductions when you file next year. Here are five tax tips the IRS wants you to know about travel while serving a charity. You must volunteer to work for a qualified organization….
IRS Looking For Taxpayers Who Pad Their Tax Deductions
It’s tax time. For those who might think, “I’ll add a little here, maybe add a little more there … nobody will notice, right?” Well, the IRS is looking harder at deductions and is warning taxpayers to avoid the temptation of falsely inflating deductions or expenses on their returns to under pay what they owe…
Are Clergy Eligible For Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more details click the link below: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualifying-employment
2016 Standard Mileage Rates
Optional standard mileage rates for ministry and business use of a vehicle will go down in 2016, the IRS announced on Thursday (Notice 2016-1). For ministry and business use of a car, van, pickup truck, or panel truck, the rate for 2016 will be 54 cents per mile, compared with 57.5 cents in 2015. Driving…
Donating a car to charity?
Remember that an appraisal is required for noncash contributions with a value exceeding $5,000. See Form 8283 and instructions as the IRS web site, www.irs.gov. (There is a Declaration of Appraiser on the form.) There is an exception to the rule for vehicles donated to a charity. If the charity sells the car, the taxpayer…
Consider Giving Appreciated Assets
What if I Stop at the Hospital During My Commute?
Question: If I drive my personal car from my home to the hospital and then to the church office, what part of that drive is eligible for the standard mileage rates? My church says that the total miles of the trip should be added and then the usual commute miles from home to office should…
