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Do pastors pay state and federal taxes?

James Sullivan

Regardless of whether you’re a minister performing ministerial services as an employee or a self-employed person, all of your earnings, including wages, offerings, and fees you receive for performing marriages, baptisms, funerals, etc., are subject to income tax.

Do pastors collect Social Security?

All pastors have to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes as if they were self-employed. Even if you work for a church and receive a W-2. Because of this, even though your church can’t withhold payroll taxes for you, they can withhold extra income taxes to make up the difference.

What does dual status taxation look like for pastors?

For Social Security and Medicare taxes, also called payroll taxes, pastors are taxed as if they were self-employed. Of course, if you’ve opted out of Social Security, you aren’t subject to these taxes at all. So, in review: What Does Dual Status Taxation Look Like For Pastors?

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How are pastors taxed under Social Security and Medicare?

For federal income tax purposes, pastors are considered common-law employees and taxed as employees. For Social Security and Medicare taxes, also called payroll taxes, pastors are taxed as if they were self-employed. Of course, if you’ve opted out of Social Security, you aren’t subject to these taxes at all.

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When do you pay taxes on dual status?

In determining your U.S. income tax liability for a dual-status tax year, different rules apply for the part of the year you are a resident of the United States and the part of the year you are a nonresident. The most common dual-status tax years are the years of arrival and departure.

What kind of taxes do you pay as a minister?

First, all “ministers” by the IRS definition are dual status taxpayers. That means that you pay income taxes as an employee but pay payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare taxes) as if you were self-employed. Self-employed people pay these taxes under the SECA system.