Who qualifies for “Clergy Status”
The employing congregation, denomination, integral agency of a denomination or a church, or religious organization is responsible to determine whether an individual qualifies as clergy status under the federal law definition. Having “minister” in the title or ministerial duties in a job description is not enough. The IRS uses the five criteria listed below to…
Medical Deduction Threshold Raised to 10% for 2019
Claiming a medical deduction on your 2019 return is going to be even more difficult than on your 2018 return. Previously, taxpayers needed to itemize and spend at least 7.5% of their adjusted gross on unreimbursed medical expenses before they got to deduct anything. Now the threshold has been raised to 10% of your adjusted…
Health Care Penalty Removed, but Premium Tax Credit Still in Play
Before 2019, individuals were required to enroll in qualifying health insurance or they would receive a tax penalty. This was called “minimum essential coverage”. You may remember receiving a 1095 form showing all the months that you had coverage. If you didn’t have insurance or you had an insurance gap, you also might have received…
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…
“Can our Church give benevolence gifts to the Pastor/employee of the Church?”
This is an area where Clergy Financial Resources would advise caution. In order to maintain their tax exempt status, Churches have to use their resources to pursue charitable goals. The Internal Revenue Code strictly forbids the use of Church assets or income to benefit individuals who have a close relationship with the Church. This is…
Common Payroll Errors to Avoid
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…
How do I report income that straddles two years?
With the end of 2019 approaching, we frequently receive questions about income split between different years. “My church is paying for my moving expenses. They gave me a two checks for $1,000. Can I wait to cash one or both until January 1st so the payments go on next year’s tax return?” “My Church was…
FAQs on the 2020 Form W-4
1. Why redesign Form W-4? The new design reduces the form’s complexity and increases the transparency and accuracy of the withholding system. While it uses the same underlying information as the old design, it replaces complicated worksheets with more straightforward questions that make accurate withholding easier for employees. 2. What happened to withholding allowances? Allowances are no…
2020 Housing Allowance Designation
2020 is almost here! December is a great time of year to update your housing allowance for the following year. Here are five quick facts about designating a housing allowance: The housing allowance designation can only be made for the future, not retroactively. This is why allowances are frequently updated in December or January for…
Can I deduct the cost of clothing?
IRS allows clergy to deduct the cost of clothing on their Schedule SE, but there is a catch. The clothing has to be work-specific and not appropriate for use outside of work. For example, a nice three piece suit or a dress shirt cannot be deducted because these could easily be worn outside of work,…
