Internet Service Reimbursements
Q: Is it appropriate to reimburse an employee for internet service in their home? If so, what recordkeeping is required? A: In today’s digitally-connected world, many employers want to communicate with their employees through technology during non-working hours....
Recordkeeping Requirements for Expenses
Q: Are there expense reporting forms that the IRS requires churches use? What other recordkeeping rules does the IRS require? A: Various expenses, if incurred for a bona fide business need, can be reimbursed by an employer, including churches. Like any...
Church Business FAQs: Personnel and Payroll Matters
Questions Addressed How do we determine whether staff are to be treated as employees or self-employed? What are the rules for giving church staff a W-2 or 1099? Are all ministers self-employed? How do we adopt a housing allowance for our pastoral staff? Does a...
Everything You Need To Know About Housing Allowance
Understanding and calculating a housing allowance for ministers is complex and, therefore, can be very confusing. Besides determining an amount that can be excluded from federal income tax, there are several rules to follow to ensure compliance with IRS guidelines....
Housing Allowance Maximums
Q: My church board has designated 50% of my salary as a housing allowance. Is there a housing allowance maximum that ministers are not permitted to exceed? A: While the tax code does not limit the amount of a minister’s salary that may be designated as the...
New Overtime Changes That Impact the Church
Starting July 1, the U.S. Department of Labor will implement a change to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that is expected to make an additional four million workers eligible for overtime pay. According to the Department of Labor, overtime protections have been a...
Background Checks and Volunteers – Handling Red Flags
Volunteers play an important role in the success of any church. The dilemma that ministry leaders face each week is recruiting enough volunteers to staff ministry positions, yet trying to fill certain roles with qualified and capable people. A volunteer recruiting...
7 Buckets to Simplify Your Personal Budget
The purpose of a budget is simple: to help you save money for future goals by limiting and tracking what you spend. The process, on the other hand, can feel complex.
Personal Budget Planning in 5 Simple Steps
Although seeking the advice of a licensed financial professional may be a wise decision, and necessary depending upon the complexity of your finances, you can create and implement some basic strategies yourself.
