Board of Pensions 2025 plan update

“The 2025 Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), including dues, is now available. With the new flexibility and choice being offered, we hope to see more ministers being enrolled for benefits — and gaining access to assistance and education programs that nurture ministries, helping to keep congregations vital.

“The new Benefits Plan, effective Jan. 1, 2025, includes two dues packages: the Covenant Package and the Congregational Pastors Package. The Covenant Package provides the Defined Benefit Pension Plan, death and disability coverage, temporary disability coverage, and the Employee Assistance Plan. It is for any employee working at least 20 hours weekly, regardless of ordination status. With dues at 10% of effective salary, this income protection package is unequaled on the commercial market. We hope it becomes our denomination’s minimum commitment to every minister we ordain.

“The Congregational Pastors Package is required for installed pastors and may be provided to any minister of the Word and Sacrament or commissioned pastor serving a congregation at least 20 hours per week. The package includes Member-only PPO medical coverage and all the income protection benefits included in the Covenant Package. Dues are 26% of effective salary, subject to minimum and maximum dues for medical coverage.

“Medical coverage for family members is an option in the Congregational Pastors Package, providing congregations with flexibility and choice. Today, fewer than half of the ministers enrolled in Pastor’s Participation elect to use full family coverage, but congregations still must pay for it. Under the Congregational Pastors Package, congregations choose whether to contribute to family coverage costs, which are established as national, community-rated, fixed pricing. For 2025, annual costs are $8,950 for children, regardless of the number of children enrolled; $11,000 for spouses; and $20,600 for full family coverage. More details are available here.

“The 2025 plan offers Transitional Pastor’s Participation for any minister who is enrolled in Pastor’s Participation as of Dec. 31, 2024. This option will sunset Dec. 31, 2027, and is not transferable if a minister changes positions. For 2025, dues total 43% of effective salary.

“The Church is changing, and the 2025 Benefits Plan has been designed to change with it. To support faithful decision-making, our Church Consultants are providing guidance as congregations and presbyteries talk with their pastoral leaders about benefits needs. Please call us at 800-PRESPLAN (800-773-7752) (TTY: 711) as you work through your choices and visit here for additional information.”

QuickBooks Online available through TechSoup

As QuickBooks Desktop is being decommissioned, you may be moving to QuickBooks Online. TechSoup offers QuickBooks Online for $80 a year. If you need help registering for a TechSoup account, please feel free to reach out to me.

How long should I keep income tax records?

Tax season is over, which always raises the question, “How long should we keep our past tax filing records?”  Here is some guidance from Richard Hammar, the Church Tax & Law expert, and the link to the full article.

“In general, you should keep records that support an item of income or a deduction appearing on a return until the statute of limitations (the period during which the IRS can audit your return) runs out. Usually this is three years after the date a return was filed (or three years after the due date of the return, if later). However, in some cases it is wise to keep records for a longer period of time, since a six-year limitations period applies in some situations, and in others (e.g., no return was filed or a return was fraudulent) there is no time limitation on the authority of the IRS to begin an audit.”

Church treasurers and finance committees

As the Treasurer of our Presbytery, I am reaching out to offer my support and assistance to you in your vital role within your congregations. Navigating the financial responsibilities of a church can often feel like a daunting task. However, you don’t have to face these challenges alone. I am here to help ease your burden and provide guidance wherever needed.

I understand the unique complexities involved in managing church finances, and I am committed to offering support to your church. Whether you require assistance with budgeting, financial reporting, or any other aspect of financial management, I am at your service. Furthermore, I am more than willing to make visits to your church if that would be beneficial to you. Sometimes, a face-to-face conversation can be the most effective way to address concerns and find solutions. Please feel free to reach out to me at treasurer@wvpresbytery.org or 304-744-7634 any questions or to schedule a visit. Together, let’s ensure that our congregations are equipped with the financial tools and support they need to thrive.

Board of Pensions: Register for the new Benefits Connect

Employers and members can now register for and access the new Benefits Connect website. You’ll need to do this to view and pay your invoices, explore the new website, and start managing your benefits in one place.

2024 IRS Standard Mileage

The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2024 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) will be:

  • 67 cents per mile driven for business use, up 1.5 cents from 2023.
  • 21 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces, a decrease of 1 cent from 2023.
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2023.

These rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.

The standard mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs.

Feds roll out new Form I-9, sunset key Covid-19 deferment

All employers, including churches, are to begin using a new Form I-9, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in late July 2023.

Form I-9 is required of employers to verify the identity and the employment authorization of their employees to work in the country.

The new form became available August 1, 2023, and allows certain qualifying employers an alternative way of examining identifying documents for new employees using E-Verify.

  • According to the Homeland Security Department rule, to use E-Verify, an employer must be an E-Verify participant in good standing, which is defined as:
  • An employer that has enrolled in E-Verify with respect to all hiring sites in the U.S. that use the alternative procedure;
  • is compliant with all requirements of the E-Verify program including but not limited to verifying the employment eligibility of newly hired employees in the U.S.;
  • continues to be a participant in good standing in E-Verify at any time during which the employer uses the alternative procedure.

The agency also announced other key changes likely affecting most, if not all, employers, including many churches. Read more here.

The new I-9 form can be found here.

More info on E-Verify can be found here.

2024 Special Offerings Calendar

Here is this year’s calendar for the four churchwide Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), of which three remain:

PENTECOST: April 1 to May 19

A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS: Sept. 8 to Oct. 6

CHRISTMAS JOY: Dec. 3 to Dec. 24

NOTE: Donations to the four Special Offerings are accepted at any time. The dates above are for times of special emphasis on the offerings. Click here for more information or to order resources, or call the PC(USA) Store at 800-533-4371.