Church and Christian Ministry Compensation
Concepts
B y Corey A. Pfaffe, CPA, PhD, Spring 2012
Employee or Independent Contractor
• Who is an employee and who is not?• You can ask the IRS, if you wish• Typical church employees
– pastors– office and facilities staff
• Typical church independent contractors– janitorial and snow removal service
companies– accounting/bookkeeping service firms
According to the IRS, who is a minister? And, what difference
does it make?• A minister is an individual who is a
“duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church” [and other 501(c)(3) religious organizations] who performs services “in the exercise of his ministry.”
• Dual Status
It makes a big difference to be both an employee and a self-employed
person!• Eligible for all employee benefit
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the most common are:– Health care plans– Retirement plans
• 7.65% (5.65% in 2011+) FICA tax withholding replaced with personal responsibility for 15.3% (13.3% in 2011+) SE tax
• Federal and state income tax withholding optional
• Form 1040-ES
Assumptions
Typical Minister’s Annual Form W-2
$35,000 Cash salary 30,000 Housing allowance designation (6,000) Minister’s 403(b) plan elective deferral (5,000) Pastor’s optional federal and state income tax withholding$54,000 Net amount paid to minister
Assumptions
Typical Minister’s Annual Form W-2
$35,000 Cash salary 30,000 Housing allowance designation (6,000) Minister’s 403(b) plan elective deferral (5,000) Pastor’s optional federal and state income tax withholding$54,000 Net amount paid to minister
Typical Minister’s Annual Form W-2
$35,000 Cash salary 30,000 Housing allowance designation (6,000) Minister’s 403(b) plan elective deferral (5,000) Pastor’s optional federal & state tax withholding$54,000 Net amount paid to minister
• Accountable plan for professional expense reimbursements• Health insurance premiums and other qualified health benefits• Employer contributions to 403(b) plan
Irrelevant items
Housing Allowance
• Principal residence• Three-part test
– Actual expenses– Designated amount– Fair rental value, plus actual cost of
utilities• Partial reduction of deductible
expenses
Retirement Plan Options• Internal Revenue Code Section 403(b)
plans• Traditional Individual Retirement
Accounts (IRAs)• Roth IRAs (and
Roth 403(b) plans)
Health Benefits for Ministers
• Health insurance• Health Reimbursement Arrangements
(HRAs)• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Professional Expenses
• Travel—car (@ $.555/mile), airplane• Lodging and meals• Materials• Entertainment
Opting Out of Social Security
• 15.3% (13.3% in 2011+) SECA; not 7.65% (5.65% in 2011+) FICA
• Requirements• Caution!
For more information...
• Non-profit organization accounting principles
• Compensation practices• Benevolent activities• Contributions issues• Foreign missions support• Ministerial tax planning
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