Questions about California Clergy

Ask Us Anything

Dear Brass Tax Presentations, I have taken on a church as a client. They have not applied for non-profit status (I know they are deemed a non-profit since they are recognized as a church). The previous person (now deceased) handled their info. They issued the pastor’s W-2 with wages in box 1, but no wages in box 15 for Ca. Shouldn’t the income be reported to the state? Thanks.  

From Brass Tax Presentations

You are correct that the wages earned by the pastor should be reported to California. California conforms to federal law as it relates to clergy taxation, except that the exclusion for the housing allowance is not limited to the property’s fair market value, and so may be a larger amount. See CA R&TC Section 17131.6.

New Filing Thresholds for 2026 and Beyond

Taxpayers who receive payments as independent contractors or make payments to contractors are probably familiar with Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC. For as long as any of us can remember, the filing threshold for these forms has been $600. This was the original...

OB3: Changes to 529 Plans

OB3 made important updates to 529 college savings plans and if you're a tax pro or a parent, you need to understand how these changes affect you