Do I include the pastor in the "Number" of employees on line one or do I just include the non-clergy employees?

We have only 1 employee in our church, the secretary. The pastor is self-employed, but elects voluntary withholding. When completed my 941, do I only list 1 employee for the secretary or 2 for the secretary and pastor?

Comments for Do I include the pastor in the "Number" of employees on line one or do I just include the non-clergy employees?

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 23, 2019
Completing a Form 941 for a Minister and Non Minister
by: Vickey

Steps for completing the 941 form for your minister and secretary (non minister employee):

1) Enter "2" on line 1.

2) Enter all "wages" (do NOT include housing allowance anywhere in a Form 941) on line 2

3) Enter total amount withheld for federal income tax for both the minister and the secretary on line 3.

4) Do NOT click the box on line 4.

5) Enter JUST the secretary's wages in lines 5a and 5c.

6) Complete the rest of the form according to the instructions.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IRS Form 941.

If you want to DIY your payroll, I highly recommend you look at using Gusto! It is very user friendly and their support is awesome! Plus they know how to set up and maintain payrolls for churches and nonprofit organizations.

Note: I am a "partner" of Gusto, but as I have told you before ... I never recommend anything that we or our clients have not tried and love =)



Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.