Church payroll can look straightforward—until questions arise about the pastors’ taxes, housing allowances or retirement-plan deductions. If your current payroll process is creating uncertainty, consuming too much staff time or leaving your ministers with unexpected tax bills, it may be time for specialized support. Consider the following questions to see whether ChurchPay Pros is right for your church.
Are you currently using a national service bureau who “just doesn’t get it” when it comes to the special payroll and tax rules for churches and ministers?
National payroll providers may understand standard business payroll without fully recognizing the special tax and reporting rules that apply to churches and ministers.
ChurchPay Pros knows church payroll. Since 1994, we have worked with churches of all sizes and denominations to ensure accurate payroll – including clergy compensation and taxes. We help establish your account correctly from the beginning and provide a dedicated ChurchPay Pros Payroll Specialist for day to day help as well as ongoing guidance about payroll issues affecting churches and clergy.
When it comes to church payroll, we get it.
Have any of your ministers been hit with an unexpected income tax bill?
Ordained ministers have a unique dual tax status. They are treated as employees for federal income-tax purposes while being treated as self-employed for Social Security and Medicare purposes.
Because Social Security and Medicare taxes are not ordinarily withheld from ministerial earnings, a minister can face a significant tax bill if the payroll setup and personal tax planning do not account for this responsibility.
At your request, ChurchPay Pros will review your clergy payroll setup and help calculate and implement the minister’s voluntary federal withholding instructions based on his or her unique tax profile to help cover their expected income and self-employment-tax liabilities. This service is free to ChurchPay Pros client churches and their pastors.
We also provide general guidance on payroll matters involving:
- Housing allowances
- 403(b) contributions
- SECA or Social Security allowances
- Minister expense reimbursements
- Voluntary federal income-tax withholding
- Other clergy-specific compensation items
Is your church concerned about administering retirement or benefit-plan deductions?
Retirement plans and Section 125 cafeteria plans can provide valuable benefits, but their payroll deductions must be handled according to the plan documents and applicable tax rules.
ChurchPay Pros can establish deductions based on your plan requirements and, when applicable, remit employee contributions and employer matching amounts to the appropriate providers.
We can assist with payroll administration for:
- 403(b) and other retirement-plan contributions
- Employer matching contributions
- Section 125 cafeteria plans
- Health and benefit deductions
- Other pre-tax and after-tax deductions
Is payroll overwhelming your church’s administrative staff?
Payroll can consume valuable staff time—especially when your team must research tax rules, calculate deductions, submit payments and keep up with filing deadlines.
ChurchPay Pros can take on the burden of payroll processing and payroll-tax administration, freeing your staff to focus on other responsibilities and your church’s mission.
Services include:
- Payroll processing and direct deposit
- Federal, state and local tax calculations
- Payroll-tax deposits and returns
- Forms W-2 and 1099
- New-hire reporting
- General-ledger reports/exports
- Employee Self-Service/Online employee access
- Dedicated payroll support
ChurchPay Pros churches ALWAYS receive a 10% discount on payrolls processing.
In addition, ChurchPay Pros clients have access to AccuPay’s full service menu including Timekeeping, HR Support, ACA Reporting, Onboarding, and more!
Would You Like Greater Peace of Mind?
Whether you are a pastor, church administrator, financial officer, treasurer or board member, you deserve confidence that your church’s payroll is being handled carefully.
ChurchPay Pros understands the specialized payroll and tax rules affecting churches, ministers and nonministerial employees. We help your church apply the appropriate payroll treatment while providing the personal service and practical guidance your team needs.
To further ease your mind, AccuPay/ChurchPayPros participates in a bi-annual SOC audit to ensure our systems and policies are secure and in line with industry best practices.
Your church does not need another ordinary payroll provider. It needs ChurchPay Pros.
Contact ChurchPay Pros to schedule a complimentary review of your current payroll setup.