The most important federal reporting obligation for most churches is withholding and reporting employee income taxes and Social Security (FICA) taxes. A number of unique rules apply to churches and “ministers for tax purposes.”
Yet many churches do not comply with them because they do not understand them. This misunderstanding can lead to substantial penalties.
To help church staff and church lay leaders understand and comply with the tax laws a series of seminars sponsored by the financial support planning ministry of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board will be held across the state in January and February 2009.
Unless otherwise noted, the seminars will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 2 p.m., with lunch provided. The dates and locations are:
• Jan. 20 — Dublin Baptist Church, Dublin.
• Jan. 21 — Memorial Baptist Church, Bluefield, Va.
• Jan. 22 — Moseby's Restaurant, Wise, 6:00 to 9 p.m. (dinner provided).
• Jan. 27 — First Baptist Church, Staunton.
• Jan. 28 — North Roanoke Baptist Church, Roanoke.
• Jan. 29 — Stuart Baptist Church, Stuart, 6:30 to 9 p.m. (dinner provided).
• Jan. 30 — Lebanon Baptist Association office, Glade Spring
• Feb. 10 — Virginia Baptist Resource Center, Richmond
• Feb. 11 — First Baptist Church, Dillwyn
• Feb. 12 — First Baptist Church, South Boston
• Feb. 17 — Norfolk Area Baptist Association, Chesapeake
• Feb. 18 — West Hampton Baptist Church, Hampton
• Feb. 19 — First Baptist Church, Woodbridge
The seminars are designed for church staff and lay leaders who handle taxes and compensation. Attendees will get help with financial support planning for church staff, including retirement and insurance, handling minister's taxes and federal reporting requirements for churches.
Jeff Cranford, financial support planning specialist with the empowering leaders team of the VBMB, will lead the seminars.
For information or to register for the seminar in your region, please contact Melody Fowler, GuideStone administrative assistant, at 1-800-255-2428, ext. 5293, or by email at melody. fowler@vbmb.org.
The seminars are provided without charge through the Cooperative Missions Budget contributions of Baptist General Association of Virginia churches.