Clergy tax done right. At a ministry rate.
Pastors are some of the most underpaid professionals doing some of the most demanding work. Common Tax exists, in part, to give back to ministry — and clergy taxes are where that gift gets concrete.
From $35/mo — our gift to those in ministry
"Thirty years of pastoral ministry taught me what's hard about a pastor's life. The IRS isn't supposed to be one more thing."Jerry Funston, EA · Pastor, 30+ years
Clergy taxes are complicated. Most preparers get them wrong.
If you've ever handed your W-2 to a generic tax preparer and watched them squint at the housing allowance line, you already know the problem. Clergy taxation operates under rules no other profession has. Dual-status. SECA. Parsonage. Accountable plans. Get any of it wrong and you either overpay by thousands or trigger an audit.
Dual-Status Employment
You're a W-2 employee for income tax, self-employed for Social Security. Most preparers don't catch this. We do.
Housing Allowance
Properly designated, calculated, and documented. The fair-rental-value cap. The actual-expense cap. The retirement-distribution carve-out. All of it.
SECA Self-Employment Tax
~15.3% on ministerial earnings including housing allowance. We model it before April so there are no surprises.
Honoraria & Schedule C
Weddings, funerals, speaking engagements, supply preaching. Categorized correctly so SE tax is calculated correctly.
Accountable Plans
Pre-tax expense reimbursement — done properly with your church. The single biggest tax savings most pastors miss.
Quarterly Estimates
Churches don't withhold SE tax. We calculate quarterly estimates so you don't get a four-figure bill in April.
One tier. One rate. For all of ministry.
Honor system. No paperwork to prove eligibility. If you're a pastor, minister, ministry staff, missionary, or otherwise in vocational ministry — this rate is yours.
- Personal return for individual, couple, or family (Form 1040)
- Clergy-specific handling: housing allowance, SECA, dual-status, Schedule SE
- Honoraria & Schedule C for weddings, funerals, speaking fees
- Federal + 1 state + local return
- Quarterly estimated tax filings — no April surprises
- Accountable plan setup guidance for your church
- Year-round questions answered — no per-call fees
- IRS notice handling included
- Secure document portal
How this compares
What other clergy specialists charge for a comparable return:
| Provider | Annual cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clergy Financial Resources | $500+ | Specialist firm, return-only |
| ClergyAdvantage | $500–$700 | Standard clergy return + add-ons |
| Local CPA (no clergy specialty) | $400–$800 | Often gets clergy returns wrong |
| Generic chain prep | $200–$400 | Rarely handles housing allowance correctly |
| Common Tax — Ministry Rate | $420/year | Specialist + year-round support + IRS rep |
Below market by design. Common Tax's way of giving back to ministry.
A pastor who also happens to be your tax pro.
Jerry Funston has served as a pastor for over thirty years. He knows ministry from the inside — the calling, the cost, the unique financial pressures. He's also an Enrolled Agent, federally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
That combination — pastor and tax specialist — is rare. It means when you talk about your housing allowance or honoraria or the church's accountable plan, you don't have to explain ministry first. He gets it.
The Ministry Rate is Jerry's way of giving back to the calling he's spent his life in. Pastors shouldn't have to choose between proper tax help and groceries.
From pastors, answered.
Why is this so much cheaper than other clergy specialists?
Because pastors are often underpaid and tax help shouldn't be a financial burden. The Ministry Rate is priced below sustainable market rates intentionally. It's Common Tax's way of giving back to ministry. We make our living on the other tiers — this one exists because we believe it should.
Who counts as "clergy" for this rate?
Honor system. Pastors, ministers, ministry staff, chaplains, missionaries, parachurch workers, ordained or licensed — if you're in vocational ministry, this rate is yours. No certificates, no denominational paperwork, no questions about your tradition.
My spouse has W-2 income from a non-ministry job. Does this still apply?
Yes. The Ministry Rate covers your full household return, including your spouse's W-2 income and standard deductions. As long as one filer is in ministry, you qualify.
What if I have a side business that isn't ministry honoraria?
If you have a separate Schedule C business beyond ministry honoraria — say, a coaching practice or freelance work — let's talk at the discovery call. Often we can still keep you on the Ministry Rate. For larger side businesses or rental properties, the Independent tier ($95/mo founder) may be a better fit.
What if my church wants help setting up an accountable plan or pastoral compensation package?
Happy to consult. The Ministry Rate includes guidance for your church on accountable plans. If your church wants ongoing payroll or bookkeeping help as a separate engagement, we can scope that separately at fair rates.
Can my church pay this for me as a benefit?
Yes, and many do. Common Tax can invoice your church directly. We can also help your church think through whether to pay it directly versus reimbursing you — there are tax implications either way that we'll walk through with you.
What if I'm a retired pastor?
The Ministry Rate is yours for life. Retired clergy keep all the unique tax considerations (housing allowance from pension, SECA implications, ministerial-earnings treatment) — and we handle them at the same rate.
Is the founder rate really locked for life?
Yes. As long as you stay a client in good standing, your $35/mo founder rate is yours — even when we eventually move new clients to the standard $50/mo rate. This is our commitment to the first cohort of pastors who trust us.
Let's talk first.
Book a discovery call. No commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation between someone in ministry and someone who's been there.
Book a Discovery Call →