Pastor makes request for withholdings

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Pastor makes request for withholdings

by Michael
(Prichard, AL USA)

So after the pastor makes the request for withholdings, does the church just write him or her the check quarterly or send it to the IRS with some special forms?

Know the answer? Face the same situation? Please post your answer or comment by using the "comment" link below. Thank you!

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Pastor makes request for withholdings

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Jan 18, 2011
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Income Tax Withholdings
by: Vickey

You will submit his income tax withholdings along with an IRS Form 941 (Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return) to the IRS.

See this page form step-by-step instructions on completing and filing a 941:

IRS Form 941 Guide

Jul 13, 2011
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941 Ministerial Withholding
by: Anonymous

I agree that ministerial withholdings are filed on form 941. I am a private accountant for our church and process our church's payroll taxes and the minister has withholdings that are filed on form 941 for federal and on the state withholding form for the state.

However, I always check box #4 (If no wages, tips, and other compensation are subject to social security or Medicare tax)because [ministers] (whether or not they have opted out of Social Security and Medicare) do not pay Social Security and Medicare tax through form 941 nor do churches as long as they are 501c3 or non-profit organizations.

As long as the withholdings are less than $2500 for the quarter, you can also pay these amounts with the 941 return form with the Form 941-V payment voucher.

Jul 14, 2011
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Checking box on line 4 on 941
by: Vickey

Yes!!!!

Thank you for mentioning that very important step. Always make sure you check that box on line 4 when you are filing a form 941 for a minister.

When my husband was in the hospital last year, someone else completed and filed our first quarter 941 and I neglected to tell them to check that box.

What a mess! Got a letter from the IRS saying we owed money...long story short...ended up spending a lot of time on the phone with the IRS and filing a 941X which is not a very nice form to have to complete.

Lesson learned...always check that box!!!

Jul 15, 2011
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Confused
by: Anonymous

I'm confused. If you are withholding for the minister, why would you not withhold Social Security and Medicare and report that on the 941?

Jul 15, 2011
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Soc Sec and Medicare Withholding request
by: Anonymous

Our pastor requested that the church withhold Soc Sec and Medicare from his Housing Allowance. I have been reading up on this but the more I read, the most confused I get. How would one handle, report, and pay this?

Jul 19, 2011
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No FICA withheld for ministers
by: Vickey

Three federal taxes are paid on wages and self-employment income—income tax, social security tax, and Medicare tax. Social security and Medicare taxes are collected under one of two systems. Under the Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA), the self-employed person pays all the taxes. Under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), the employee and the employer each pay half of the taxes.

Ministers are under the SECA system. See IRS Publication 517:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p517/ar01.html

Therefore the church would not hold out Medicare and Social security taxes out on a minister.

Jul 22, 2011
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To withhold, or not to withhold, that is the question
by: Anonymous

Our minister provided a w-4 requesting withholding. Therefore, we withhold, right?

Jul 25, 2011
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Voluntary Income tax Withholding
by: Vickey

A church can withhold income tax, but not Social Security and Medicare tax.

Ministers who report their income taxes as an employee can request voluntary withholding by submitting a Form W-4 to the church.

Nov 17, 2011
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941
by: Anonymous

According to IRS, in most cases a minister is considered an employee for income tax purposes, but self-employed for social security tax purposes. Therefore ministers pay the SECA, not the FICA tax.

As was stated in an earlier post, a church cannot withhold SECA tax. However, at the ministers request, the church may withhold addtional income tax to cover his self-employment tax (SECA) obligation. The church then deposits this amount with any other payroll taxes due monthly and reports it on the 941 form .

This method is purely for the minister's convenience since it precludes him having to pay his personal self-employment taxes quarterly. (alternatively, the church may just write the minister a check each quarter for the additional amount witheld so that he can pay his self-employment tax himself (Note the church itself must still pay any income tax witheld against the ministers salary as an employee).

The church then issues him a W-2 at the the end of the year properly filled out (not a 1099), and the only personal return he files is the annual 1040 form, usually along with Schedule C and Schedule SE on which he reports self-employment income (which is generally all income including housing).

If a church and minister choose this method of withholding, it definitely changes the way the 941 form is filled out.

Nov 21, 2011
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This is making sense now
by: Anonymous

Thanks everyone for your posts on this topic.

Pastor withholding is such a complex issue for a 1st time church treasurer with 2 kids and 2 jobs!

Final question: Is the church allowed to withhold and submit taxes on Housing Allowance if the pastor requests withholding on Housing Allowance?

Dec 05, 2011
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Ministers Voluntary Withholding
by: Vickey

Is the church allowed to withhold and submit taxes on Housing Allowance if the pastor requests withholding on Housing Allowance?

No, you can not withhold anything on his housing allowance; however, he can request voluntary withholding on his income taxes and he can specify the amount he wants withheld.

So even though it will be income taxes withheld the extra amount could help offset the self employment tax on his income and housing allowance.

Gets overwhelmimg sometimes, doesn't it :-)
I have 3 jobs...but no kids living at home at the time...that would be hard. When my grandkids are at my house I can't get anything done :-)

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