GlocalNet

Connecting for Glocal Transformation

I’m On My Soapbox This Morning about Taxes

Posted April 6, 2009 by Amy Colón // 3 comments

imageIt’s almost April 15!!  You know what that means. . .your taxes better be done!

I believe that one of the biggest things that everyone forgets to prepare us for when jumping into starting a church is TAXES!  Boy did we learn our lesson the hard way.  Being a “self-employed” pastor definitely has some perks.  You can write off just about anything.  But let me just YELL out loudly. . .PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure that you find a tax person who truly knows everything there is to know about PASTOR taxes.  Take it from the mouth of experience. . .you don’t want to make the mistakes we did.  It might cost you extra to go somewhere other than HR Block or one of those other chain tax companies, but it will be well worth it in the end.  It took us 2 years to dig out of a HUGE tax mess that was naively created simply because we didn’t get the right advice.  And believe me, there is more than enough to concern you in the middle of starting a church than Uncle Sam. 

Here is my #1 recommendation if you are just starting out or not fully confident of your tax preparer…Clergy Financial
You don’t have to live near them. . .they will consult and do everything with you over the phone, email and mail.

I hope I’ve saved you a few headaches today and in the future!  grin
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image posted by Amy Colón
To continue to connect even more, check out the church planting wives group on Facebook

Comments

  • brandiandboys says:
    Apr 13, 2009 at 03:12 PM
    taxes are the thorn in my side too. we now use an organization that focuses on non-for-profits and clergy and i really appreciate them. however, we also suffered some bad advice from a reputable local company. when the mistake was uncovered a couple of years later it cost us SEVERAL THOUSAND dollars.... enough said! our tax motto is "it's worth paying someone who knows what they're talking about!!!!"
  • amy colon says:
    Apr 16, 2009 at 12:01 PM
    @brandiandboys - Glad I'm not alone. . .anytime anyone asks me for my top 5 tips to a new church planting family - finding a good tax preparer is ALWAYS near the top of my list. Church planters don't have the time or the $$ to learn that lesson the hard way.
  • Stop Repossession says:
    Apr 29, 2009 at 04:11 AM
    What are the rules and what kind of Taxes i have to pay for buying products from outside India?

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