What’s next for PPP?
When the House convenes next Wednesday, it is expected to vote on the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, a standalone bill that would, among other things, lengthen the time churches may spend the funds from their PPP loans. The bill would also eliminate the requirement that 75 percent of a loan’s proceeds must be spent on…
How do I qualify for PPP loan forgiveness?
Once you’ve received a PPP loan, you must spend the loan on approved expenses in order for it to be eligible for forgiveness. Luckily, the loans are intended to help with payments many churches are struggling with right now, including: Payroll costs Interest for mortgages Church rent obligations Church utility payments Health care benefits If…
What goes in my Box 1 Wages?
Clergy W-2 forms can be a little confusing, and almost every Church seems to do them a little bit differently. And even filling them out requires a little bit of tax knowledge about what is and what is not taxable. Box 1 of the W-2 should include everything that you need IRS to consider as…
Top 10 Clergy W-2 Mistakes
Correctly filing Clergy taxes can be difficult, especially because many W-2 forms already contain errors or omissions. Here are ten common mistakes that are made when issuing Clergy W-2 forms. Forgetting to remove 403(b) contributions from taxable wages. The wages that Clergy defer into their traditional 403(b) retirement accounts should not be taxed. Forgetting to…
How Do I Get the PPP Loan Forgiven?
You are eligible for loan forgiveness for the amounts you spend over the next eight weeks after receiving the loan on certain qualifying expenses. The qualifying expenses of the church over the eight-week period include payroll costs, rent, interest on mortgage debt and utilities. If the number of full-time employees is reduced over this time…
FAQ – Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to churches and small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The loan amounts will be forgiven as long as: The loan proceeds are used to cover payroll costs, and most mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs over the 8…
Sick Leave & Child Care Leave Credit – COVID-19
Churches can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing COVID-19-related leave to their employees. This relief to employees and small and midsize businesses is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFRCA). The act gives businesses(including churches) with…
Employee Managment – Time Tracking
Question: Our employees often don’t turn their timesheets in on time. If an employee doesn’t submit his/her sheet on time, can we delay processing his paycheck until the next pay period? Answer: Getting employees to turn timesheets in on time can be challenging. It is the obligation of the church to pay employees on the…
Hiring Contractors? Get the W-9 Upfront!
Hiring Contractors? Get the W-9 Upfront! Churches that hire contractors have a requirement to obtain their Tax ID Number on form W-9 if they will have to issue a 1099-MISC to them. However, Churches may not know at the beginning of the year if they will pay more than $600 and need to send the…
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…