At Forrest A. Eaton, Jr., CPA, we specialize in tax preparation and planning for the clergy. Our familiarity, expertise and experience with clergy tax law allows us to efficiently guide clients through the maze of tax rules unique to ministers. In addition to preparing current tax year compliance filings, we are also in a position to assist with calculating tax projections and payment alternatives.

Churches and ministers often struggle with developing an equitable compensation arrangement. Much of that struggle is generated by confusion around various tax rules unique to the clergy. Coordinating allocation of wages, housing, benefits and professional expenses can have a significant impact on tax liability. We understand the rules and therefore can offer helpful support and guidance in planning compensation tailored to a minister's specific situation. We have assisted numerous churches and ministers in structuring compensation packages to fit the church's budget while providing the best tax solution to the minister.

Much of the confusion about clergy taxes begins with how a minister's employer reports the payroll. With our understanding of the unique payroll reporting requirements for churches, we offer competent payroll assistance and guidance to our clients and often to their payroll service vendors. We will work with you to establish proper payroll protocols to prevent problems arising from compliance filings. If issues have already been encountered, we will assist with resolving them.

Nobody looks forward to correspondence from the government. Yet, with the advancement of technology, matching information on one's tax return with information independently reported to IRS increases the likelihood of a computer-generated discrepancy notice. Commonly misunderstood tax rules for clergy are also responsible for generating correspondence. Professional representation can be vital during an audit, and our experience with tax authorities enables us to guide clients in their dealings with federal and state agencies. If you have been chosen for an audit, the professional representation and familiarity with clergy tax law you can find with our firm can put many of your worries at bay. We are ready and willing to answer any and all questions the IRS may be asking of you.