Ministers Tax Guide for 2012 Returns

This popular annual guide focuses on tax issues most likely to affect ministers and churches. It includes sample tax returns for both active and retired ministers. Church treasurers and other church leaders will find a valuable resource in the guide’s special section about important federal requirements for churches.

Richard Hammar again authored this year’s guide with assistance from our staff. He is an attorney, CPA and widely published author specializing in legal and tax issues for churches and clergy.

Tax guide download
The tax guide is available for download in two ways — multiple files or one file. The single file download is recommended only for those with a high speed Internet connection. You may also contact us to request a printed version of the tax guide.

Choose a download version

Single file (approximately 4.3 MB): Ministers Tax Guide

Multiple files

Section 1 (pages 1–17, 245 KB)
Contents:
President’s message.
Part 1. Introduction.
Part 2. Special Rules for Ministers

Section 2 (pages 18-44, 269 KB)
Contents:
Part 3. Step-by-Step Tax Return Preparation
Form 1040.
Schedules A, B, C, C-EZ, and SE.
Forms 2106 and 2106-EZ.

Section 3  (pages 45-57, 2.2 MB)
Contents:
Part 4. Comprehensive Example and Forms 
Comprehensive example for senior minister.
Example W-2 and 1040.
Example Schedules A, C-EZ, M, and SE.
Forms 2106-EZ.
Explanation of sample forms for active minister.

Section 4 (pages 58-67, 1.6 MB)
Contents:
Part 4. Comprehensive Example and Forms, continued.
Comprehensive example for retired minister.
Form 1099-R
Example 1040
Example Schedules C-EZ, L, and SE.
Explanation of sample forms for retired minister.
Comprehensive Example and Forms, continued.

Section 5 (pages 68–84, 210 KB)
Contents:
Special section: Important federal requirements for churches.
Appendices.

Find IRS forms, instructions and publications on the IRS web site or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

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