Nonprofit and Church Accounting Blog
This accounting blog...
- informs you when any new web pages appear on my site,
- shows you the latest question, comment, or tip posted by readers...(please feel free to browse the questions below and answer the ones you feel comfortable answering),
- let's you know when an error is found in my free financial spreadsheets and how to correct them.
Jul 14, 2020
H&R Block Housing Allowance for pastors
I had to go back and file my 2018 taxes. I am using H&R Block software. The church I pastored did not report my housing allowance on the W-2, which was
Jun 01, 2020
With Aplos, are there transaction fees for using online giving in addition to the monthly subscription?
Are there transaction fees for using online giving in addition to the monthly subscription? Many sites charge 2%-5% of the transaction amount plus .30
Jun 01, 2020
2 year rule
My husband and I went into ministry 6 years ago. When I filed our taxes with H&R Block, I inquired about why we were paying self-employment taxes. I
May 08, 2020
State Sales Tax - LA
Louisiana does not exempt churches from sales tax. Sales tax not collected at time of purchase on items used in the operation of the church such as bibles,
May 03, 2020
Housing Allowance in year of retirement.
My housing allowance of $25,000 for 2020 was adopted by the Board in December 2019. I will be retiring on July 31. Can I claim on my 2020 tax return
May 03, 2020
Housing Allowance and the 941 Form
We do not provide a salary for our pastor, only a weekly $200.00 housing allowance. Should we include this amount on the 941 Quarterly form?
May 03, 2020
How to handle voluntary Fed and State tax withholding for pastors with 100% salary as housing allowance
I am the treasurer for a small church. We have 2 employees, both pastors, who have elected to be employees for tax reporting purposes. Due to their housing
Apr 22, 2020
Pastor Employed with HA & recieving retirement with designated HA ???
Can a minister who is 69 and presently an employee of his church and receiving a housing allowance also use a housing allowance designated by his retirement
Continue reading "Pastor Employed with HA & recieving retirement with designated HA ???"
Apr 22, 2020
Down Payment on New home & Housing Allowance
When a pastor moves to a new church and buys a new home, does the down payment on a new home factor into minister’s housing allowance?
Continue reading "Down Payment on New home & Housing Allowance"
Apr 22, 2020
When to report FMV of church owned property for minister
We have a new minister joining our staff. The plan is for he and his wife to use dual living space - their primary home and a church owned property - until
Continue reading "When to report FMV of church owned property for minister"
Apr 22, 2020
Question concerning how church organist is paid
As pastor, I have just become aware that we are paying our church organist by sending her pay to her landlord for a partial on her rent. A lawyer that
Continue reading "Question concerning how church organist is paid"
Apr 22, 2020
Unemployment compensation
As independent contractor, organist, now that churches are closed during pandemic. Can I collect unemployment?
Apr 22, 2020
Designated Accounts
Our church borrowed money for a building. Debit Bank / Credit Note Payable This makes my bank balance but ... How do I get the money into the designated
Apr 22, 2020
Part Time Youth Minister - Full Time Secular Job
Our youth minister is part time. We have been treating him as an employee withholding SS, State tax, and Fed Tax. He has a full time secular job where
Continue reading "Part Time Youth Minister - Full Time Secular Job"
Apr 22, 2020
Tax return software that will accept a clergy W2 with box 1 empty
For a minister working part-time and all of his salary is designated housing allowance, what software program will accept a clergy W2 with box 1 empty?
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Apr 22, 2020
Can a church give a contribution receipt for a website name that is donated?
There is a website name that the church would like to buy (the church initials.com), but it is for sale for $45,000. If the church paid $100, could we
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Mar 22, 2020
Downpayment on new home
Can a minister who is currently renting while in between having sold their home and purchasing a new one use the down payment made in the purchase of their
Mar 22, 2020
Love Offering/Pastor's Aide for Elderly Retired Pastor
We give a monthly offering to our founding pastor who is elderly and does not file taxes. We describe this offering as pastor's aide. I understand
Continue reading "Love Offering/Pastor's Aide for Elderly Retired Pastor"
Mar 09, 2020
Love Offering during musical performance
I am a member of a musical group considering holding a concert at a local church. The group is a 501c3 nonprofit. If the church collects a free will
Mar 09, 2020
Receiving Social security benefits for secular employment while working as a minister
I have worked a secular job 20 years before becoming a minister if I file 4361 will I still be able to receive the benefits paid into social security
Mar 09, 2020
Ushers making change from the offering plate
I was recently told that, from the loose tithes/offerings in the offering plate, our ushers have been making change for people who do not have the exact
Continue reading "Ushers making change from the offering plate"
Feb 21, 2020
Top 5 Church Payroll Mistakes
Church payroll mistakes can be costly. Learn what to do and what not to do!
Feb 05, 2020
W3 reporting form for Pastors W2
if a pastor opts out of FICA, what does the church check on kind of filer on the W3. The church doesn't file a 941 or 944 report because there is nothing
Feb 05, 2020
Clergy retirement plan
The company pays for our Pastor's retirement plan, do I check the retirement box or leave blank?
Feb 05, 2020
How Do We Report Insufficient Salary?
We approved our Full-time Senior Pastor for a $36K 2019 Compensation package: $18K Salary/$18K HA but the church could only afford to pay him a little
Feb 05, 2020
Pastors Housing Allowance Annual Designation
If the housing allowance remains the same each year does it have to be recertified each year ?
Continue reading "Pastors Housing Allowance Annual Designation"
Feb 05, 2020
Can an ordained minister not receiving income from a ministry still claim housing allowance
My husband is an ordained ministry with a full-time non-ministry job, and also has a ministry to incarcerated inmates. He performs ministry part-time
Feb 05, 2020
housing allowance is more than pastor earned this year
our pastors wages for 2019 were 21,250.00, his housing allowance is 24,000.00. how do I show this on hisw2?
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Feb 05, 2020
Accounting software for small non-profit group
I am considering purchasing an accounting software for my non-profit group. Our monthly transactions are between 5 - 15 entries per month. What do you
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