Can self-employed ministers deduct commuting mileage?
Can self-employed ministers deduct commuting mileage? Travel can be one of the most problematic areas for many of your self-employed ministers. The crux of the matter is defining when a drive is a commute and when it’s a deductible travel expense. This definition depends crucially on the minister’s principal place of ministry. Driving between home…
Can I deduct the value of volunteer work?
Can I deduct the value of volunteer work? In short, there are certain tax benefits to take advantage of as a volunteer. In fact, any volunteer of a §501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization is entitled to receive deductible charitable contributions. Although no tax deduction is allowed for the value of the services performed for this type of…
Can I deduct the cost of a religion courses?
Can I deduct the cost of religion courses I took at church? It depends. If the church is an accredited school, you can deduct the tuition as your education expenses. Otherwise, you cannot. If you took the courses to prepare you for a new skill/work, they are not deductible either. However, if you work and the…
Minister’s Spouse & Family Travel Expenses
During the summer months, ministers and their families often travel together. Sometimes a minister is able to combine a trip that is partially for vacation, and partially for a legitimate business purpose, such as attending a ministry-related conference or seminar. As long as the portion of the travel that is legitimately for business purposes is…
Are Moving Reimbursements Taxable?
The approaching summer season is often a time of transition. During this time of year churches frequently hire new employees who relocate to serve the church. Ministers and other church employees sometimes find new opportunities and make a change during the summer months, between school years. Coming out of the disruptions caused by COVID-19, many…
Important Documents for Ministers to Keep
Important Documents for Ministers to Keep There are certain documents all people should keep in an important place for future reference, such as a birth certificate, a social security card, or a last will and testament. For ministers, there are a few other important documents that should be retained and kept in a safe place….
Cell Phone Deductions for Ministers
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 subject to self-employment tax in order to take the…
Guide to Clergy Compensation
Clergy Status is a person who has been granted ecclesiastical authority by an association, denomination, or state through the rite of ordination, commissioning, or licensing. 1. Generally, an ordained minister has a Master of Divinity from an accredited theological school and is recognized through the rite of ordination to preach and teach the gospel, to…
Q&A – The rules for cellphone reimbursement
Q: “When it comes to reimbursing employees or providing a monthly stipend for the use of their personal cellphones for ministry purposes, is this a non-taxable fringe benefit?” A: Yes, provided that your reimbursement is reasonably calculated to actually reimburse the employees for the actual costs of maintaining the phone. Creating a policy for employee…
IRS updates mileage rates for 2020
The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2020 standard mileage rates that ministers can use to calculate the deductible costs of operating their automobile for ministry or business. This rate can also be used by churches to reimburse mileage. Starting on Jan. 1, 2020, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (along with…
