The revised Form I-9 is easier to complete on a computer. Enhancements include drop-down lists and calendars for filling in dates, on-screen instructions for each field, easy access to the full instructions, and an option to clear the form and start over. When the employer prints the completed form, a quick response (QR) code is automatically…

Although the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not directly define full-time or part-time employment, there are standards to follow. It is up to the church to decide how many hours per week employees must work to receive either full-time status or part-time status. As long as the church designates what constitutes full-time and part-time status and…

On November 22, 2016,  U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant granted a preliminary injunction on the new overtime rules that were to take effect December 1, 2016.  U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant III ruled in favor of the plaintiffs  who argued that the new OT rules would have caused an an increase in government costs in their states and would…

Contrary to popular belief, there is no general legal requirement that churches give employees sick leave. While most churches do in fact give employees some paid time off each year to be used for sick leave, the law does not require employers to do so in most circumstances. Under some circumstances, however, the law does require…

Turbo tax is helping taxpayers in Alabama after errors were uncovered in its state income tax software that led some taxpayers to inadvertently overpay or underpay their taxes. In 2013, the Minnesota Department of Revenue advised taxpayers to review their returns for possible errors. Online tax software are great programs for basic secular returns but is…

Think Long Term Retirement Planning, Not Presidential Term The next step in successful retirement investing is understanding you can’t time the market. Fidelity demonstrated the importance of consistent, long-term investing in a one of the worst investing periods in history—the stock market meltdown of 2008–2009. Their study showed that employees who kept investing in their workplace…

Free I-9 Webinar On Demand Webinar On Demand Federal law requires that every church comply with the I-9 requirements. Each individual employed in the United States must complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Form I-9 will help you verify the employee’s identity and employment authorization. Viewers can choose the chapters of their choice or watch the entire…

Researching a clergy issue on your own takes time and can leave you wondering if you’ve got the right answer. Turn to Clergy Financial Resources to save time while getting the correct answers. Have a Question  – Ask the Pros

A shift away from church-owned housing Analysis of national data set confirmed what many denominational leaders and others already knew. In 1976, about six in ten pastors lived in free housing—that is a manse or parsonage—and did not own or rent their home. By 2013, the percentage of pastors living in church-owned property dropped to only fourteen percent.  Cynthia Woolever

The IRS is alerting taxpayers that an email scam is circulating with fraudulent CP2000 notices, requesting payment related to the Affordable Care Act. The fraudulent notices instruct the taxpayer to send a check made payable to “I.R.S.” to a P.O. box address.   Notice CP2000 is a real IRS letter sent in many instances where information reported…