Resource Roundup: Doing those clergy taxes
Resource Roundup: Doing those clergy taxes
by Laura Beville
This month’s resource round-up is all about clergy taxes! As a clergyperson, it can be daunting to figure out your taxes. As clergy, we live in the balance between needing a W-2 and being self-employed. It can be complicated. Most tax preparers are not fully aware of the unique tax benefits available to clergy. Online tax services rarely can provide the correct algorithms for the nuances of housing allowances, Fair Market rental value of the parsonage, and all the extra state taxes, two churches (or more!), etc. It can be overwhelming to figure out who has the skills to prepare your taxes.
A cost-effective way in the short run is to do your taxes yourself with the help of an online tax service. Clergy friends consistently say that Turbo Tax is the best online tax filing system out there for clergy. It will run you $89 for Federal Tax Filing and $39 for State Tax Filing for self-employed people.
However, I have found over the years, that it actually is more cost-effective in the long run, to budget $200-$400 a year to find a tax preparer who specializes in clergy taxes. They will help you estimate your quarterly taxes, come up with plans for the future to help bring the cost down, and overall give you peace of mind. Best of all, most of these have virtual firm structures and are Enrolled Agents with the IRS – so they can prepare taxes for all 50 states! While these following tax preparers were recommended by Greater Northwest area clergy, please do your own research in vetting these tax preparers yourself.** Some only have limited availability (or no availability for this tax year) on accepting new clients at this time, so you may have to call more than one.
A-1 Tax & Accounting, LLC
Tammy Fischer, LTC
Website: https://a-1taxaccountingllc.com/
Phone: 503-777-1040 x5
Email: tammy@a-1taxaccountingllc.com
Clergy Tax Planning
Derek Thomsen
Website: clergytaxplanning.com
Phone: 714-367-8475
Email: Derek.Thomsen@crownmail.net.
Clergy Tax Service
Stephen Cannon
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/clergytaxservice
Address: 407 Crestview Ct, McPherson, KS 67460
Phone: 913-735-0474
Email: scannon@clergytaxservice.com
Jacobson Clergy Tax Service
Steven Jacobson
Website: https://www.jclergytax.com/
Address: PO Box 661, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Phone: 1-866-502-8295
Sleasman & Tanner, PC
Allen R. Tanner
Website: http://www.sleasmancpa.com/index.htm
Address: 15431 SE 82nd Drive Suite J, Clackamas, OR 97015
Phone: 503-454-0896
Email: info@sleasmancpa.com
Do you have other names and contacts to add to this list? Please let us know and we will update this list! Email me at lbeville@umoi.org
Next month will be a resource round-up for church treasurers and bookkeepers!
**We hope you find this information useful and informative. Please note that any comments or information are shared as the best information we at the time of printing and should be used as general information which is subject to change without notice and may not remain current. The staff of the Oregon-Idaho Conference does not provide professional financial or legal advice. You must contact a lawyer or qualified financial advisor for professional advice.
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