Taxes and the collection plate

~ Local churches learn about IRS rules

Businessmen and women take advantage of tax breaks and use financial expertise to maximize their income and minimize their expenses.

The same benefits -- and some others -- are available to clergy and churches.

Dan Busby, one of the nation's top experts in tax and finance issues for clergy and churches, will present "Getting in Shape -- Fiscally" Aug. 26 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Busby is a certified public accountant and former chief financial officer for a religious denomination. He currently serves as the vice president with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability in Washington, D.C.

He is the author of the best-selling "The Minister's Tax and Financial Guide" and "The Church and Nonprofit Tax and Financial Guide."

Susan Jesperson, administrative assistant for the Southeast District of the United Methodist church, said Busby will talk about business deductions clergymen can take off their income taxes and special tax circumstances that apply to ministers.

"One of the things that makes clergy different from regular folks is they're considered an employee of the church as far as income taxes are concerned," Jesperson said. "When it comes to Social Security they're considered self-employed. Clergymen have different needs when planning for retirement."

Busby will also go over IRS regulations concerning housing allowances and other benefits.

"They will learn how to save money and learn how to maximize benefits and make sure they're reporting what they need to report, all the right processes on the right forms and not pay more taxes than they have to," Jesperson said.

Busby will also touch on one business inevitability that applies even to churches: documentation and paperwork.

The training event is open to ministers, administrative staff and church leaders (including treasurers and chairmen and members of personnel and finance committees) as well as those who prepare tax returns for them. All denominations and faith groups are welcome.

The event is sponsored by the Southeast District of the United Methodist church, the Gateway Chapter of the National Association of Church Business Administration and the Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries.

The schedule is 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The registration fee includes lunch.

Visit the Web site www.sedistrictumc.org for copies of the brochure and registration form or contact Jesperson at sedistrict@ecunet.org or at 334-8723 for additional information.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160