When should the church use Form 1099-NEC?
As another year comes to a close, there are many important things that need to be wrapped up before the end of the year. For your church, your to-do list must include year-end payroll duties. Beginning with the 2020 tax year, the IRS will require churches to report nonemployee compensation on the new Form 1099-NEC…
Are ministers employees or self-employed?
The answer is “both.” Ministers have what is commonly referred to as “dual tax status.” For federal income tax purposes, a minister is generally treated as a common-law employee. For payments into Social Security, the minister is always self-employed. This is an IRS regulation and not an election. When a church hires an employee, one…
FAQ: Can I use nursing home expenses for the housing allowance? Can I deduct them anywhere else?
For clergy who are living permanently in a nursing home, they can use some (but not all) of their nursing home expenses for the housing allowance. For example, the rental cost of their room and the utilities are eligible for the housing allowance. The food and medical care are not eligible for the housing allowance….
Should my church outsource our bookkeeping?
Church bookkeepers have for a long time been confused with accountants. They, however, carry very different responsibilities. Bookkeepers maintain the financial records of the church that includes income and expense records. They are supposed to keep records of the dates and amount of every transaction of the church. It is also their task to keep…
Five Tips for Managing Your Church Budget During the COVID-19 Crisis
None of us could have anticipated what this spring was going to be like when 2020 church budgets were being prepared last summer or fall. Yes, we are in unfamiliar territory. Two-thirds of self-identified church leaders say giving to their churches has dropped significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic became widespread nationwide in March—with sizable numbers…
FAQ for Churches: Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
Q. My employee’s child’s school is operating on an alternate day (or other hybrid-attendance) basis. The school is open each day, but students alternate between days attending school in person and days participating in remote learning. They are permitted to attend school only on their allotted in-person attendance days. Can the employee take paid leave…
What to do if you can’t afford to pay
Life is unpredictable, especially during a pandemic. If you weren’t able to pay your return timely for whatever reason, don’t panic. Here are some tips to help: Even if you can’t pay, you should still file your return. There is a penalty for late-filing a return, and it is based on how late the return…
Can my severance pay be designated as housing?
Whether it is through resignation or retirement, a Church may agree to pay severance pay when a Minister leaves a position. In almost all cases, this severance pay is considered taxable income to the pastor or minister. The question then arises- could you designate this severance pay as housing? This is actually a question of…
SECURE Act removes limit on age for retirement contributions
If you are retired or nearing retirement, you may want to pay attention to the SECURE Act that went into effect January 1st of 2020. This act made a number of important changes to retirement account rules, including: Raising the minimum distribution age to 72 (Was previously 70 and a half) Removing the age limit…
What is the difference between standard and itemized deduction
It’s a good idea for people to find out if they should file using the standard deduction or itemize their deductions. Deductions reduce the amount of taxable income when filing a federal income tax return. In other words, they can reduce the amount of tax someone owes. Individuals should understand they have a choice of…