Give Withholding and Estimated Payments a Check-up to Avoid a Tax Surprise
Some clergy are surprised to learn they’re due a large federal or state income tax refund when they file their taxes. Others are surprised that they owe more taxes than they expected. When this happens, it’s a good idea to check your federal tax withholding or estimated payments. Doing so now can help avoid a…
Gift Giving Limitations
How much can you give before the IRS gets involved? The IRS has set the annual gift tax exclusion at $14,000 this year. What this means is that you can gift up to $14,000 each to as many individuals as you like this year without having to pay any gift taxes. A married couple can…
Cost of Living Adjustments for Clergy Income
With so many line items making up a clergy’s compensation package, how exactly does one apply a cost of living adjustment (COLA) to their salary package. When a COLA is given to a clergy’s salary, the adjustment is made on their base + housing. Since housing is a fixed number, the total adjustment is added…
Tips for Dealing with IRS Notices
Tax season has come and gone again and now the IRS is taking a second look at some returns. Even if you’ve already filed a return and received a refund, it is possible that a letter from the IRS could show up in your mailbox. Each year, the IRS sends millions of letters and notices…
Tips for Clergy Who Missed the Tax Deadline
Clergy Financial Resources has some advice for clergy who missed the tax filing deadline. File as soon as possible. If you owe federal income tax, you should file and pay as soon as you can to minimize any penalty and interest charges. There is no penalty for filing a late return if you are due…
FAFSA and the IRS
Every year, students across America who hope to receive federal financial aid for college must apply for it by filling out a FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This year, the timing is a little more difficult than usual. Because the IRS had to delay processing of individual returns this year due to…
Top 12 Tax Return Preparation Errors
1. Number transposition and spelling errors. This includes income and deduction amounts and client Social Security numbers, addresses and zip codes. Spelling errors should also be avoided – they indicate a lack of attention to what you are doing. 2. Unreported 1099 income. Clients frequently leave out 1099s, but the preparer should make sure all…
Kids going to a day camp this summer? Get a tax break!
Most working parents are well aware they get a tax break to help cover the costs of sending their children to day care. But some parents overlook the tax advantage of summer day camp costs. During school vacations, many parents turn to these supervised programs to provide child care while they work. Overnight camps don’t…
Clergy Financial Resources Reminds Parents of Ten Tax Benefits
Your kids can be helpful at tax time. That doesn’t mean they’ll sort your tax receipts or refill your coffee, but those charming children may help you qualify for some valuable tax benefits. Here are 10 things Clergy Financial Resources wants parents to consider when filing their taxes this year. 1. Dependents In most cases,…
It’s beginning to look a lot like…Tax Season.
The income tax filing season has begun and important tax documents should be arriving in your mailbox. Even though your return is not due until April, you can make tax time easier on yourself with an early start. Here are Clergy Financial Resources’ top 7 tips to ensure a smooth tax-filing process. 1. Gather your…
