Navigating Church Finances: Keeping it Simple & IRS Compliant l Church Bookkeeping, Church Payroll, Minister Taxes
Hey there, I’m Michelle and I love all things Jesus, business and church finances! I help church finance individuals just like you go from feeling confused and frustrated with what you don’t know about church finances, to being more confident in your role while increasing your proficiency and expertise in the church finance realm. Are you tired of Google searches that result in endless pages of answers to your questions about church finances, housing allowances and clergy taxes? Do you need help with getting the right processes and procedures in place for your church office or business? Are you looking for a group of like-minded believers who understand your desire to do business and serve the local church God’s way? In this podcast, you will find practical AND biblically based business solutions for your church office or bookkeeping business that serves churches . We will give you tried and true bookkeeping tips and lessons that are specific to the church ministry and other foundational practices that you need in place to make sure that the church(es) that you serve are in compliance with current industry standards and IRS tax code. My mission is simple: to help church bookkeepers/treasurers/finance individuals become more confident in their role and increase their expertise in church finances so the church can continue her mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ If you are ready to walk out the calling the Lord has on your life while serving Him with excellence - then you are definitely in the right place! If you are ready to serve your church with confidence while keeping God at the center of everything you do - this podcast is for you! So grab a notebook and pen to take some great notes. It’s time to serve Him with Excellence! Learn: www.churchfinances.org Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/churchbookkeepingandclergytax
Episodes
Episode Summary: In this episode of the Navigating Church Finances Podcast, host Michelle delves into the importance and proper handling of contribution statements for church donations. Using a personal experience as a backdrop, Michelle highlights the crucial elements that must be included in contribution statements according to IRS regulations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone handling church finances, ensuring donors rec...
Key Highlights:
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Introduction to IRS Dirty Dozen (00:00:21): Michelle introduces the IRS Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2025, which are prevalent threats that individuals need to be cautious about.
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Email Phishing Scams (00:00:57): Learn about the constant issue of email phishing scams where scammers send fake IRS emails to trick individuals into clicking malicious links. Remember, the IRS never contacts taxpayers via email, phone...
In this episode of Navigating Church Finances Podcast, host Michelle Brown explores the value of supporting locally owned Christian businesses for churches. She unpacks why choosing to shop local can align more closely with biblical stewardship and ministry values. Michelle challenges listeners to consider the greater impact of their spending choices beyond just finding the best price online or at national chains.
Show Notes:
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Episode 93: Financial Admin Evaluation
Welcome to another episode of Navigating Church Finances with Michelle Brown, the podcast that takes the guesswork out of managing church finances. In this episode, we explore the importance of creating and utilizing job descriptions and employee evaluations, especially for church bookkeepers or financial administrators.
What’s in This Episode:
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Introduction of the New Show Format: Michel...
Welcome back!
In today’s episode, we will be chatting about properly preparing a Minister’s W-2.
I recently had the honor of writing an article for NATP’s Tax Pro magazine. Since I share everything I learn with you, I decided that I would share highlights from the article with you as it’s a member-only magazine and cannot be purchased by the general public.
Even though the deadline for submitting W-2’s to the IRS and providing to...
After a 2-month break, I'm back and sharing why it took so long.
Grab your FREE Church Payroll Compliance Kit at https://churchpayrollcompliancekit.com
Join my Private Coaching Group at https://churchfinances.org/cohort
Thanks for listening
xo
Michelle
89: Courts halt new DOL Salary rules
79: Year end Wrap up
54: 1099's
53: Filling out those W-2's for ministers
xo, Michelle Next Steps:Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Church Finance and Minister Tax podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The c...
In this quick bonus episode, I briefly discuss the newest update in the DOL's Salary requirement change and what the TX Federal court decision means for you and your church.
xo, Michelle Next Steps:Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Church Finance and Minister Tax podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not inten...
It's not always easy, but sometimes change is necessary. Today I share what was a big change for me in my business.
xo, Michelle Next Steps:
Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Church Finance and Minister Tax podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The content discussed is based on p...
Benevolence given to immediate family members of employees is generally treated as taxable income to the employee. This is because the benefit is considered to be provided in connection with the employee's performance of services.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/102
xo, Michelle Next Steps:Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided ...
- Direct Employer Payments: Benevolence funds provided directly by an employer to an employee are generally included in the employee's gross income under Section 102(c).
- Qualified Disaster Relief Payments: Payments made by an employer to employees for disaster-related expenses can be excluded from gross income under Section 139 if they meet the criteria for qualifi...
The determination of whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor is based on the common law rules, which consider various factors indicating the degree of control and direction the employer has over the worker. According to the IRS regulations and rulings, the following seven factors are significant in establishing an employer-employee relationship.
xo, Michelle Next...Do you think all ministers are automatically self-employed for payroll? We are going to answer that question today as we walk through the ins and outs of ministerial employment status with a story to show why it’s so crucial for churches to get this right.
New FREEBIE!
https://churchpayrollcompliancekit.com
xo, Michelle Next Steps:Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Discl...
The three most common mistakes churches make with 1099 forms are:
- Misclassifying Employees as Independent Contractors: Churches often incorrectly classify workers (e.g., ministers, musicians, or administrative staff) as independent contractors when they should be treated as employees. This can result in tax penalties for the church and confusion for the worker about their tax obligations.
Today we’re going to tackle a crucial topic for small churches—how to create an effective budget, even when resources are tight. Budgeting can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with limited income, but with the right approach, it’s not only manageable, it can help your church grow and thrive.
xo, Michelle Next Steps:
Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Discl...
Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Church Finance and Minister Tax podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. The content discussed is based on ...
https://www.churchfinances.org/icfcourse
Hope to see you there! xo, Michelle Next Steps:Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Church Finance and Mi...
https://churchfinances.ck.page/6e9ec4fa85
xo, Michelle Next Steps:
Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEAI was recently asked what services a professional bookkeeper could offer to churches.
I share in today's episode the services I offer through my firm that I recommend other bookkeepers offer as well.
xo, Michelle Next Steps:Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Church Finance and Minister Ta...
New Harassment Law from the EEOC is discussed to make you aware of who it affects in your church and how you should respond.
https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-harassment-workplace
xo, Michelle Next Steps:Click below to learn more about me and my current offers
https://my.linkpod.site/MBrownEA
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Church Finance and Minister Tax podcast is for general informational pu...
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