Clergy Taxation: Housing Allowances, W-2 Reporting, Retirement, Gifts, and Social Security
Note: CLE credit is not offered on this program
Recording of a 110-minute CPE webinar with Q&A
This course will explain the unique aspects of tax return preparation and planning for members of the clergy. Our panel will cover the treatment of earnings by ministerial employees, including employment by a congregation, retirement income, social security, gifts, and housing allowances.
Outline
- Who is a minister?
- W-2 or independent contractor
- Housing allowance
- Forms of income including gifts and honorariums
- Fringe benefits
- Retirement considerations
Benefits
The panel will review these and other notable issues:
- Who is a minister for tax purposes?
- What are deductible housing costs for clergy?
- What income or benefits are taxable to ministerial employees?
- How to properly prepare a clergy employee's Form W-2
Faculty

Jean Hartley
CEO
Hartley Tax & Accounting
Ms. Hartley provides ministers with expert tax consultation concerning ministry tax. She is a tax accountant... | Read More
Ms. Hartley provides ministers with expert tax consultation concerning ministry tax. She is a tax accountant specializing in ministry tax and accounting with 33 years of experience in the accounting field and 28 years specializing in ministry tax.
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Deb Oskin, EA, FNTPI
Clergy Tax Expert
Oskin Tax Services
The Rev. Deb Oskin, EA, NTPI Fellow has been doing Clergy tax returns since 1989, when her husband left seminary to... | Read More
The Rev. Deb Oskin, EA, NTPI Fellow has been doing Clergy tax returns since 1989, when her husband left seminary to pastor a small rural congregation. She learned the tax problems and pitfalls associated with being married to a "hybrid employee" as a pastor's wife and later, as a tax professional. Ms. Oskin was ordained in 2004 and started her own practice specializing in clergy taxes in 2011, after 12 years with a big box store. Clergy clients make up 80% of her client base. She's been teaching and presenting nationally on clergy taxation to clergy, treasurers and administrators, and tax pros since 2004. Ms. Oskin averages a dozen national presentations each year. Other than the fact that she really likes to talk, she 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. Ms. Oskin is an experienced presenter, and despite the complexity of the material, you'll find yourself laughing.
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Elaine Sommerville, CPA
Shareholder
Sommerville & Associates
Ms. Sommerville is licensed as a certified public accountant by the State of Texas. She has worked in public accounting... | Read More
Ms. Sommerville is licensed as a certified public accountant by the State of Texas. She has worked in public accounting since 1985. Ms. Sommerville's practice has and continues to be centered primarily on the tax compliance aspects of nonprofit organizations and churches. She has assisted in the representation of several large case IRS exams as well as other IRS examinations of smaller organizations. Ms. Sommerville devotes her time to handling various IRS issues for individuals and for exempt organizations of various types. She actively consults on many IRS compliance issues for churches and other nonprofit organizations and prepares information returns of all types for tax exempt organizations.
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