Automatic Exemption for Churches
Automatic Exemption for Churches Churches that meet the requirements of IRC Section 501(c)(3) are automatically considered tax-exempt and are not required to apply for and obtain recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS. Although there is no requirement to do so, many churches seek recognition of tax-exempt status from the IRS because this recognition assures…
Can a Church Give an Employee Loan?
Can a Church Give an Employee Loan? During times of economic hardship, individuals may approach their employer and request a personal loan in order to help make ends meet. If an employee of a church requests a personal loan from the church, there are several issues to consider. As a matter of policy, will the…
Can all church employees qualify for housing allowance?
Q. Can all church employees qualify for housing allowance? A. No. Section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code allows only a “minister of the gospel” to have a housing allowance. Thus, only taxpayers who are serving as clergy under IRS rules for tax purposes are eligible for a housing allowance. These rules state that the…
Tax & Payroll Support
Support Designed for Churches – One-Year Subscription
Researching clergy issues on your own takes time and can leave you wondering if you’ve got the right answer. Turn to Clergy Financial Resources to save time while getting the correct answers. When you need an answer, our support staff is ready to find the right answers quickly with our annual support service. Through Benefit and Payroll Support, you’ll have access to unlimited phone and electronic support provided by a dedicated team of professional advisors with years of experience.
Reasons Churches Get Involved In Legal Disputes
Reasons Churches Get Involved In Legal Disputes Risk management is important to all organizations, including churches. While there is no way for a church to protect itself from all legal risks, church leaders are well advised to be familiar with common reasons churches get into lawsuits, and to take reasonable precautions. This article provides awareness…
How Should Churches Handle Legal Issues?
How Should Churches Handle Legal Issues? The last thing church leaders want to invest their time and energy into is responding to legal issues. How should church leaders respond when potential legal issues arise? Of course, it depends greatly on the nature of the issue. Here are some practical preliminary questions to ask, and steps…
Bookkeeping Designed for Churches
Do you find yourself spending more time and effort on daily accounting tasks and software issues rather than on making important decisions to run your church? Handling your own bookkeeping can quickly take over, letting other responsibilities fall through the cracks. Let Clergy Financial Resources help you get back on track by managing your bookkeeping…
10 Reasons to Outsource Church Bookkeeping
10 Reasons to Outsource Church Bookkeeping Managing church finances can be a daunting task even under the most favorable circumstances. Factor in complex tax reports, bank reconciliations, and ever-changing IRS and state guidelines, and you can guarantee church staff is overspending valuable time on workarounds for processes that could be intuitively streamlined. With Clergy Financial…
Can a church have different PTO policies for job categories?
Can a church have different PTO policies for job categories? Employers can generally offer different PTO benefits to different employees as long as there is a valid and non-discriminatory business reason for doing so. We would recommend mentioning your policy variations in your employee handbook to be clear on the subject. With that said, it…
Can the church pay student loans tax-free?
Can the church pay student loans tax-free? The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) provides a way for churches to provide both tuition, books, supplies, and student loan payments tax-free through January 1, 2026. The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) of IRC Section 127 allows churches to reimburse up to $5,250 per employee, per…