Credit for Church Member Donations

by Financial Secretary
(NC)

As the financial secretary, I have members who want credit for donations to the church. They will put their receipt in the envelope for me to write it on their statement. Is this okay?

Comments for Credit for Church Member Donations

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Feb 23, 2017
 Tax Receipts must be prepared from the Church's accounting
by: Bill OConnell

No, this practice is irresponsible, and places both you and the church in jeopardy.

Every corporation in America is legally obliged to maintain "books and records" to prove either:

1. what it must pay in taxes, or
2. in the case of a church, that its operations comply with its mission that allows it a tax-exempt status.

In the case of a church, you are providing a document to American taxpayers that allows them to reduce their taxes on form 1040. You should be producing these from the books and records that are subject to internal controls of agreeing to bank deposits, etc. And the IRS expects that you are not simply producing receipts that conform to amounts requested by the donor-taxpayer.

As an officer of the church you have personal exposure if these receipts are proved to be fradulent. Further, the tax-exempt status of the church could be at risk as well.

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