http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/church-accounting-blog.html The Accounting Blog will keep you up-to-date with all additions and reader posts to freechurchaccounting.com. en-us church accounting Tue, 15 May 2012 19:05:15 GMT Tue, 15 May 2012 19:05:15 GMT freechurchaccounting.com http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/associate-pastors-and-housing-allowance.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/associate-pastors-and-housing-allowance.html We have an associate pastor who reports to the Pastor as his boss. Can the associate receive a housing allowance? Currently we give a housing allowance Tue, 15 May 2012 19:05:09 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/health-shall-spring-forth.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/health-shall-spring-forth.html Believing health shall spring forth speedily for Kevin. Our testimony of living in the last stages of colon cancer. Fri, 11 May 2012 20:55:08 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/retirement-accounts.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/retirement-accounts.html How are employee contributions to a retirement account documented for a pastor? Do they need to appear on the W2 form Wed, 09 May 2012 00:11:11 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/church-software-tips.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/church-software-tips.html Church software tips, 990 tax returns, and IRS rulings on individual contributions discussed in this month issue of Stewardship. Tue, 08 May 2012 16:19:01 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/church_accounting_software.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/church_accounting_software.html Which church accounting software is best for your church? See what you need to look for in nonprofit accounting software and what other church administrators are saying about their accounting software Mon, 07 May 2012 18:57:46 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/required-giving.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/required-giving.html If the pastor determines his pay and mandates that each member pay a specified amount,and has checks made out to him, is this correct and deductible? Birthday, Thu, 03 May 2012 17:02:23 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/churches-and-benefit-dinners.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/churches-and-benefit-dinners.html A church member recently contacted me to see if they could hold a Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction at the church for her ill daughter. They have area Tue, 01 May 2012 02:48:17 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/correcting-previous-w2-that-did-not-have-housing-allowance-subtracted-from-box-1.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/correcting-previous-w2-that-did-not-have-housing-allowance-subtracted-from-box-1.html We have discovered that the previous bookkeeper here did not subtract Housing Allowance from the pastors' salaries in Box 1 on their W-2s, and so the pastors Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:14:11 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/love_offerings.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/love_offerings.html Love offerings should follow a guideline to determine if they are taxable to the recipient and tax deductible to the donor. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:37:44 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/running-the-race.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/running-the-race.html Looking unto Jesus we are running the race set before us. This is the testimony of our journey with advanced stage 4 colon cancer Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:32:54 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/contributions-designated-to-individuals-for-missions-trips.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/contributions-designated-to-individuals-for-missions-trips.html How should the church account for gifts given to individuals who are planning missions trips, but are not yet sanctioned missionaries? Are these gifts Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:25:08 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/1099misc-and-w2.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/1099misc-and-w2.html Can a pastor that is issued a W-2 for his/her church duties also be issued a 1099-Misc for special events like marriages if performing the special event Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:36:15 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-do-you-handle-love-offerings-made-out-to-the-pastor.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-do-you-handle-love-offerings-made-out-to-the-pastor.html what if the love offering/anniversary checks are made directly to the pastor Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:34:30 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/counting-cash-donations.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/counting-cash-donations.html We try to always have two church Members count the donations every week. We do this as we do not want just one person counting. 1) someone suggested Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:55:11 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-to-report-gifts.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-to-report-gifts.html For a minister - how are gifts reported on 1099? how are gifts reported on W-2 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:36:52 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/is-a-minister-legally-allowed-to-place-all-of-his-income-in-housing-allowance.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/is-a-minister-legally-allowed-to-place-all-of-his-income-in-housing-allowance.html Is there a limit to the percentage of income you place in housing allowance? If your housing expenses are equal are greater than your income, are you Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:28:47 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/love-offeringgifts.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/love-offeringgifts.html If a love offer/gift is taking up during the special presentation of gifts on the program and stated that the gifts that are enclosed in a love offering Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:31:35 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/journal-entry-of-gift.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/journal-entry-of-gift.html If a village received a gift of a new fire engine from a local civic group. the fair value of this fire engine was $400,000. the entry to be made in the Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:10:51 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/tithing.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/tithing.html Do you know where on the 1040a I put the amount I tithed to my church? Thanks Paul Ingra Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:08:52 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/missionary-tax-return.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/missionary-tax-return.html I need some help with a missionary's tax return. it seems like it may be similar to ministers taxes but I am not sure. Any help or where to research Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:07:48 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-should-i-be-taxed.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-should-i-be-taxed.html I am the owner of an LLC taxed as an s corp. I am also an employee of the company as an ordained minister providing spiritual counseling. The company Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:30:45 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/can-a-religious-nonprofit-501c3-give-housing-allowance.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/can-a-religious-nonprofit-501c3-give-housing-allowance.html Greetings! I know churches can give an income tax free housing allowance to ordained ministers--but what about a para-church organization? We're a 501(c)3 Sat, 14 Apr 2012 01:58:23 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/941-for-churches.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/941-for-churches.html two employees. janitor $500/month I do withhold medicare and SS. Pastor $3000/month salary, $300mo for annuity/pension and $400/mo for HSA. Do Sat, 14 Apr 2012 01:50:31 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/are-clergy-exempt-from-clergy-retirement-income.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/are-clergy-exempt-from-clergy-retirement-income.html Are Clergy exempt from Clergy retirement incom Sat, 14 Apr 2012 01:49:14 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/use-of-benevolence-funds-in-a-baptist-church.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/use-of-benevolence-funds-in-a-baptist-church.html Our church collects a benevolence fund every Sunday. We do provide assistance to our members/non-members. Can these funds be utilized to help with Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:55:55 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/church-windows.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/church-windows.html As an accountant by training and church administrator by calling, I like church windows. It's fund accounting works nicely for keeping things seperate. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:54:46 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/issued-a-1099misc-instead-of-w2what-now.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/issued-a-1099misc-instead-of-w2what-now.html I've been issued a 1099-MISC for my work as pastor of a church, but I'm reading here that I should have received a W-2. So how do I file my taxes, and Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:13:28 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/housing-allowance-for-a-home-and-a-parsonage.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/housing-allowance-for-a-home-and-a-parsonage.html We own a home where we lived when my husband was at our former church. He was moved to another town to a church with a parsonage. Spouse is at the former Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:11:58 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/commuter-mileage.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/commuter-mileage.html I think Bible Study (taught by the pastor) each Monday night would be considered commuter mileage? How about the other things listed below? Our pastor Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:08:36 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/furniture-purchases-using-housing-allowance.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/furniture-purchases-using-housing-allowance.html If a pastor is using a portion of the housing allowance to purchase furniture while living in a parsonage owned by the church, does such furniture become Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:27:10 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/volunteer-pastor.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/volunteer-pastor.html As a non paid volunteer pastor of our church can I claim any deductions for our home office which is located 30 miles from the church. Can I claim a Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:26:03 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/housing-allowance-approval.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/housing-allowance-approval.html Housing Allowance approved for $300.00 a week 1.What goes into minutes the dollar amount or breakdown of the expenses so check can be issued? 2. Is it Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:37:04 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/question-should-a-church-should-withhold-taxes-from-a-pastor-.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/question-should-a-church-should-withhold-taxes-from-a-pastor-.html Some sites say a church needs to withhold taxes, except FICA, from a pastor wages. Some sites say not to. Some sites say a pastor has to request taxes Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:33:10 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/where-is-the-housing-allowance-reported-on-the-income-tax.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/where-is-the-housing-allowance-reported-on-the-income-tax.html Where on the return is the housing allowance reported Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:22:27 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/se-tax-housing-allowance.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/se-tax-housing-allowance.html I am the Associate Pastor at our church. Although I meet the five criteria of a minister, our church has treated me as an employee rather than self-employed. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:21:02 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/keeping-my-heart.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/keeping-my-heart.html The peace of God is keeping my heart from breaking on this rough path we are traveling. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:11:57 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/clothing-donations.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/clothing-donations.html Our church would like to start a ministry where we collect clothing and give it away to needy families. What things do we need to do in order to cover Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:53:46 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/housing-allowance-subject-to-se-tax.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/housing-allowance-subject-to-se-tax.html If a pastor already opt out of SE tax on his W-2, is the housing allowance also not subject to SE tax Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:37:08 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/can-i-claim-travel-expenses-to-the-us.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/can-i-claim-travel-expenses-to-the-us.html I am a Canadian Ordained Minister who has received no salary this year, but have traveled to the US to volunteer, can I claim my travel expenses and housing Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:13:06 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/contract-for-musican.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/contract-for-musican.html I need a contract for our church musican Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:01:00 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/stuck-in-read-only-mode.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/stuck-in-read-only-mode.html My spreadsheet has somehow gotten stuck in the read only mode. I can't figure out how to change it back. Help Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:00:08 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/pastors-compensation-is-not-even-enough-for-his-rent-should-he-get-a-1099.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/pastors-compensation-is-not-even-enough-for-his-rent-should-he-get-a-1099.html We're a small church and could not even pay our pastor enough for his apartment rental. The church's compensation is his only source of income. Should Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:47:17 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/quickbooks-nonprofit-clarification.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/quickbooks-nonprofit-clarification.html We have purchased 2012 quickbook nonprofit. The language is so different for us to know how to begin using it. Why doesn't it use words that are associated Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:46:30 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/question-on-donating-a-house.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/question-on-donating-a-house.html We are thinking about donating the use of our home to a Christian Counseling Center (501c3). One of the counselors (who is paid far less than other counselors Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:45:35 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/have-approved-4361-but-there-are-social-securiy-and-medicare-tax-withheld-on-w2.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/have-approved-4361-but-there-are-social-securiy-and-medicare-tax-withheld-on-w2.html I have approved 4361, which I obtained in the middle of 2011. I have been ordained since 2010 but I filed and got approved 4361 during 2011. I see that Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:44:34 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/can-housing-expenses-offset-other-retirement-benefits.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/can-housing-expenses-offset-other-retirement-benefits.html My father is a retired minister, but is working for a small church that gave him $6,000 for the year toward health insurance. He wants to know if he can Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:35:18 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/walk-by-faith.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/walk-by-faith.html Walking by faith in our journey with stage 4 cancer. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:38:50 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-should-church-set-up-funds-to-help-with-the-pastors-self-employment-tax.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/how-should-church-set-up-funds-to-help-with-the-pastors-self-employment-tax.html We are a small church of about 100 members. We want to help pastor paying his self employment taxes, however not sure how if the church should get a seperate Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:30:54 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/pastor-non-church-related-travel.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/pastor-non-church-related-travel.html If a Pastor is traveling because he was invited to be a speaker at another church which is covering airflight and acomidations. Does the local church Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:30:16 GMT http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/preapproval-for-housing-allowance.html http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/preapproval-for-housing-allowance.html What exact provision in the IRS code calls for the governing board of a church to approve, in writing, the housing allowance to be paid to a minister prior Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:24:59 GMT