Sponsored by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry, and Bethany Theological Seminary
During this five-hour webinar, you will learn a great deal about clergy tax law, tax preparation, and clergy compensation. It will be a resource-full day, so plan to take care of yourself as you learn. Eat when you’re hungry. Get a drink when you’re thirsty. Stand up and walk around when you need to. But most importantly, ask questions! If you have a question, at least six other people are wondering the same thing!
Handouts: Sessions 1 & 2 Handout Session 3 Handout
Schedule
(Session 1) 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET (0.15 CEUs): “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Clergy Taxation, Part 1.” Topics covered: IRS definitions of ministers (ministerial “status”) and of ministerial work (ministerial “services”) as well as the three kinds of income ministers receive, the two kinds of taxes ministers pay, and the various ways ministers can pay those taxes during the tax year.
(Session 2) 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET (0.15 CEUs): “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Clergy Taxation, Part 2.” Topics covered: Housing exclusion, parsonages and parsonage adjustments, and self-employment taxes, as well as ways to reduce total taxes.
(Session 3) 3 to 4 p.m. ET: “Completing the Clergy Tax Return.” Zeke Zacharias, pastor at Litlold Church, has a typical clergy tax return to complete. We will walk through it with him using H&R Block’s Premium (for self-employed people) version of downloadable software.
Registration Link: https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/clergy-tax-seminar
Leadership
Deb Oskin has been doing clergy tax returns since 1989, when her husband left seminary to pastor a small rural Church of the Brethren congregation. As a pastor’s wife and later as a tax professional, she learned the tax problems and pitfalls associated with the IRS’s identification of clergy as “hybrid employees.” In 2011, after twelve years with H&R Block, Deb left to start her own tax practice, specializing in clergy taxes. Clergy clients now make up 86 percent of her client base.
Deb was ordained in 2004 when she was called by the Living Peace Church of the Brethren in Columbus, Ohio, to be their peace minister to the wider community. She served as Southern Ohio District’s board chair from 2007-2011 and served as the Southern Ohio-Kentucky 2018 District Moderator. She is currently serving as Chair of the denomination’s Pastoral Compensation & Benefits Advisory Committee.
She has been teaching and presenting nationally on clergy taxation to clergy, treasurers and administrators, and tax pros since 2004. Other than the fact that she really likes to teach, Deb does this because of her deep belief that clergy can devote more of their energy to ministry if they aren’t stressed by tax debt.
Deb is an experienced presenter, and despite the complexity of the material, you’ll find yourself laughing. Learn and enjoy!