Minister's Tax Preperation

I usually use Tax Cut. It's menus aren't very intuitive sometimes, but my returns look (depressingly) similar each year, so it's worked pretty well.

Joshua

 

For nonaccountant pastors I would recommend TurboTax as the most user-friendly tax preparation software.

However, in many cases it makes sense to go to a tax preparer (most churches have accountants who prepare taxes on a regular basis for a small fee). Tax software can cost anywhere from $35-$75. For that much you can get a professional to prepare your taxes and won't have to worry about it.

Tax laws for clergy members (IRS term) is quite complicated - even for accountants.

If you have any specific tax questions, feel free to ask them in the "Money and Christians Forum" and I'll try my best to answer them.

 

NO HOUSING ALLOWANCE BENEFITS???

That person should be beaten with their own slide rule. That's the benefit. Everything else is gravy.

Joshua

 

I have used turbotax on line for the past couple of years. If you make less than a certain amount you can do it for free. I qualify though I am don't remember what the amount is. It has been pretty good I guess. I haven't found any errors. It is a bit hard to work at times, especially over a dial up connection but it works.

 

If I had more time, I'd volunteer to do all BB pastors' tax returns for free.

I have been doing my pastor's taxes for a few years now and am quite familiar with tax laws for pastors.

As mentioned before, tax laws for pastors are complicated even for accountants. Be careful if you're doing it on your own.

If anyone has any specific questions, I may be able to help. Just post the question in the Money Forum.

[ January 15, 2002: Message edited by: webmaster ]

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TomVols:
Do you find that TurboTax is clergy friendly? That is one of my criticisms of TaxCut. Also, TaxCut takes it personally when you have to override an entry it makes on your behalf, which you have to do sometimes because it is not Clergy-friendly.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

At times it is not as friendly as it should be, IMO. I had a hard time with housing allowance and that kind of thing. It is difficult to maneuver sometimes. Last year, I messed up something, I couldn't fix it and then had to start over. When I started over, I got the same number but it printed out different forms for some reason. I never did figure it out. But since it was August 14 and my extension was running out, I didn't have time to mess with it. I would rather have someone who knows what they are doing do it, but since I don't have the kind of jack that it takes to get someone to do it, I do it myself. I probably pay more than perhaps I would have to. I don't know.

BTW, how many pastors here have opted out of the Social Security?

 

I opted out of SS in 1973.

I have used TurboTax for several years, about 5 I think, ever since they bought out Parsons tax program. For the most part I have found it easy to use and seems to prompt me for clergy benefits. However, like the other program mentioned it is not always friendly to changes which are not its idea

April 15th is coming! But so is the rapture!!!!

[ January 15, 2002: Message edited by: Circuitrider ]