StartCHURCH Conferences ...Protect and Empower Your Church!
What do I do about the past years? How can I correct them?
There are ways to correct mistakes from the past. Get them corrected now, before an audit, and you will be OK.
Why pay thousands of dollars for an IRS compliance audit when you can do it yourself?
Learn how to do your own IRS compliance audit without the costs of attorneys or CPA's. Getting your ministry in compliance with state and federal regulation will protect your ministry from legal and tax trouble.
Does the new IRS rule regarding board of directors affect my church?
New rules for board of directors require a balanced board. Each member must sign a declaration stating their active participation as well as having equal voting power among the others. Learn the other rules for board members.
Are tithes and offerings deductible if the church has not filed for 501(c)(3) status?
According to new federal case law, offerings to a church that has not applied for 501(c)(3) status are no longer presumed to be tax exempt. They must file for 501(c)(3) in order to keep church members from losing their tax deductions in an audit or tax inquiry.
What about retirement for ministers?
Did you know that current tax law allows churches to set up life-time, tax-free income for pastors and ministers when they retire?
Do your church bylaws protect you?
A church in California decided that they needed to follow Scripture in removing some members from the church who were living lifestyles contrary to biblical standards. After being removed from the church, some of the members sued in court to be reinstated.
Can the church pay the pastor's gas?
If your church pays the pastor's gas to cover his/her ministry travel expenses, chances are you are doing it wrong. This could cost the church and the pastor trouble under a simple IRS tax inquiry.
How do you handle designated offerings?
Can the church get in trouble for using designated offerings for different purposes? Many churches do not know when using a designated offering for other purposes is illegal and when it is OK. These question will get answered in detail at the conference.
Did you know that...
A Community Development Corporation (CDC) could be the best way to raise all the funds you'll ever need for outreach? Many churches are doing it successfully! Learn how our founders did it and raised all the funds they needed to do all the church outreaches.
Recent court rulings make operating a church without 501(c)(3) a bad deal for church members!
One U. S. District Court ruled that members of a church without 501(c)(3) status cannot get a tax deduction under an audit. This is a bad deal for churches and members without 501(c)(3) status.
What about the newly passed Housing Allowance Clarification Act?
Most churches are not aware that the housing allowance has been rewritten by congress. Under the new rules, most churches are no longer doing it right. This can be costly to ministers across America!
Can a minister opt out of social security taxes?
Any minister who properly opts out of social security will still receive social security benefits when he/she retires if he/she has at least 40 credits applied to his/her account. Find out how to do it the right way!
What happens if the church fails to issue 1099 forms to hired musicians?
Under Section 7203, the church is required to issue a 1099-Misc to hired musicians and many others in the church. Failure to do so will result in fines to the church. The IRS is hot on this one.
Does Section 4958 allow the IRS to fine church officers?
Yes! Under Treasury Regulation 53.4958, the IRS can fine church officers and their family members severally up to $10,000.00 for mi-use of church funds even if it was unintentional. Learn how to protect your church officers.
Are reimbursements allowed in the church?
If your church or ministry pays out reimbursements without adopting a Section 62 reimbursement plan, those that receive the reimbursement have to pay income taxes on it.
Learn the Secrets to Avoiding the IRS Danger Zone
What you do not know CAN hurt you! Contrary to what some are saying, the IRS is not seeking to persecute churches, BUT they are seriously cracking down on the laws governing all nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations - including churches. The IRS Code contains 265 areas that pertain to churches...265! Some are trivial, while others could cost you big if you do not follow the law exactly. Given that the IRS has a goal to examine one out of three churches in America within the next five years, you must know how to protect yourself. You will learn:
- How to avoid the 10 most common IRS pitfalls. These are the areas you are most likely to be in noncompliance, and they have the most potential to wreck your day.
- How managing your church benevolence program according to Income Tax Regulation 1.170A-4A(b)(2)(ii)(D) and Revenue Ruling 56-304 can save your church's tax exempt status. Many churches have benevolence programs, most of those programs are in danger of causing the church to lose its tax exempt status because they are not being conducted according to the requirements of the law.
- The potentially devastating consequences for violating code Section 4958, and how it could cost your church corporately, your trustees individually and even your church members! Sound scary? It is, but you do not have to be at risk. We will make sure you know what to change to be in compliance.
- The fact is that most churches violate code many sections of the IRS code without knowing it. Odds are, you are one of them. Ignorance to the law is inexcusable to the IRS. God is gracious, but the IRS is not! The good news is, you can learn how to fix it all.
During the conference we will cover many topics that are absolutely critical to operating your church or ministry in a way that simultaneously benefits the church and pastor while protecting all involved from the ever increasing scrutiny of the government, such as:
- How to maximize the unique financial benefits available to ministers. Very few ministers take full advantage of the benefits their unique tax status affords them. The sad fact is, most ministers pay FAR more in taxes than legally required. That does not have to be you! With the information you will learn at this conference, you can take home more money, pay less taxes and secure the financial future of your family.
- Why the ministerial housing allowance, when properly applied, is the single greatest tax savings available to anyone, and it is only available to ministers! We have identified over 30 items that need to be calculated with your housing allowance, and we will teach you how to use them correctly. You might even eliminate your income taxes altogether!
- How you can take advantage of the unique opportunity for clergy to opt out of paying Social Security taxes without jeopardizing Social Security benefits at retirement. Does this sound too good to be true? It's not! We will show you how to use IRS code, Section 1402(e), specifically to your benefit. Let us show you how.
- How you likely qualified for the Earned Income Credit last year, but were told by your misinformed CPA that you made too much money. Not to worry, this is one of the least understood issues for tax accountants. Be prepared this year.
- That the money you are spending on medical expenses could be a tax-free benefit from your church under Code Section 105b, but only if it is done correctly. You will learn how.
- How churches can legally provide for the long-term care of the pastor's spouse in the event of the pastor's death. No, it is not the same as above, but it is just as valuable to your financial security! It is a better retirement vehicle than any 401k, 403b, IRA. etc., and it is tax free! Like many of the topics we will discuss, this one is available only to ministers. Your financial advisor has probably never heard of it, but now you have.
Testimonials from Past Attendees
The LightHouse Worship Center
Cross Lanes, WV
Tax Surgeon
Smyrna, DE
Orthodox Catholic Church
Cincinnati, OH
New Jesus House of Faith
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Manhollow Missionary Baptist Church
Hampstead, NC
Faith Restoration Worship Center
Ft. Pierce, FL
Living Church Ministries
Williamstown, KY
