Handling Gifts to Ministry Staff
In the for-profit world, many employees receive Christmas or year-end bonuses to show appreciation to the staff. This same practice is quite common in the American church as a way for the congregation to bless and show appreciation for their pastor and other church staff members.
Handling these gifts in an IRS-compliant manner is of the upmost importance. There are several different scenarios that your church may come across so familiarizing yourself with the different possibilities will help you navigate them.
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) wrote a detailed description of these different situations your church may need to handle. We would like to refer you to their expertise on this subject: https://www.ecfa.org/Content/Gifts-to-Ministry-Staff .
Still confused? Feel free to reach out to us with your questions!