Category Archives: 2015

FREE In the Know LIVE Webinar 

Posted on November 4, 2015 by benefitsboard

In the Know LIVE FREE 30 Minute Webinar Friday, November 20, 2015 2:00 – 2:30 PM EST The holiday season is quickly approaching and before you know it the New Year will be here.  Don’t get caught up in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 11 - November 2015 | Leave a comment

Charitable Non-Cash Gifts and Documentation of Non-Cash Gifts

Posted on September 30, 2015 by benefitsboard

Non-Cash Gifts The giving of items other than cash is unique and therefore most non-cash gifting should be completed only after consulting a tax professional. However, it is important for the church treasurer to understand the basic rules of non-cash … Continue reading →

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Posted in 08 - August 2015 | Leave a comment

Business Expenses

Posted on August 19, 2015 by benefitsboard

Business expenses place more ministers in the “cross hairs” of the Internal Revenue Service than any other issue. Claiming excessive business mileage is probably the number one reason that ministers are audited. Usually, churches will adopt an accountable plan that … Continue reading →

Posted in 08 - August 2015, Expenses, Ministers, Tax Information | Leave a comment

Items Not Considered as Reportable Income

Posted on August 12, 2015 by benefitsboard

Lawyers often jokingly state that there is a simple distinction between tax evasion and tax avoidance – twenty years in federal prison. Hiding income is tax evasion and punishable by imprisonment upon conviction. However, there are several items mentioned within … Continue reading →

Posted in 08 - August 2015, Internal Revenue Service, Ministers, Tax Information | Leave a comment

Reportable Income for Ministers

Posted on August 5, 2015 by benefitsboard

Ministers and churches often find it difficult to determine or agree upon what is or is not reportable income for the minister. However, it is the treasurer’s job to make this determination since he or she is responsible for reporting … Continue reading →

Posted in 08 - August 2015, Informational Manuals, Internal Revenue Service, Ministers, Tax Information | Leave a comment

Housing Allowance

Posted on August 5, 2015 by benefitsboard

Where a church has no parsonage, generally the church seeks to provide for the housing needs of the pastor by giving him a “ministerial housing allowance” so that he may secure his own home, either by renting or owning. Again, … Continue reading →

Posted in 07 - July 2015, Informational Manuals, Ministerial Housing Allowance, Ministers, Tax Information | Leave a comment

Identifying and Reporting Business and Professional Expenses

Posted on August 5, 2015 by benefitsboard

It is normal for a minister to incur out of pocket business expenses throughout the year as he goes about conducting business for the church. However, many ministers and church treasurers are not familiar with how these expenses are to … Continue reading →

Posted in 07 - July 2015, Expenses, Informational Manuals, Internal Revenue Service, Ministers, Tax Information | Leave a comment

Tax Reporting of Retirement Plan Contributions

Posted on August 5, 2015 by benefitsboard

Retirement plan contributions made by the church on behalf of the minister or a church-related employee are not required to be reported at all on Form W-2. In addition, amounts contributed to the retirement plan by a salary reduction agreement … Continue reading →

Posted in 07 - July 2015, Informational Manuals, Internal Revenue Service, Ministers, Retirement Contributions, Tax Information | Leave a comment

Tax-deferred Retirement Accounts

Posted on August 5, 2015 by benefitsboard

The Minutes of the Church of God General Assembly state that the local church should make contributions “to the Church of God Ministers’ Retirement Plan for the pastor of an amount equal to at least 5 percent of the cash … Continue reading →

Posted in 07 - July 2015, Informational Manuals, Internal Revenue Service, Ministers, Retirement Contributions, Tax Information | Leave a comment

Christian Legal Society Webinar

Posted on July 6, 2015 by benefitsboard

There are many ramifications of the same-sex marriage decision handed down recently by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Christian Legal Society will host a special webinar on Wednesday, July 8 at 2:00 pm (Eastern) to discuss the impact of this … Continue reading →

Posted in 07 - July 2015, Chaplains/Evangelists, Ministers | Leave a comment