Compensation Studies

COMPENSATION STUDIES

The Church Lawyers assist clients with establishing reasonable compensation policies and practices that comply with IRS rules and regulations.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION STUDIES

As churches struggle to ascertain reasonable compensation for employees, The Church Lawyers assist churches by undertaking separate, independent third-party evaluations of executive compensation, utilizing comparability data to ensure that executive compensation is reasonable in accordance with federal tax law, and industry standards.

HOUSING ALLOWANCES

The housing allowance is an invaluable tax benefit for those ministers who meet the requirements of Section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code.  Not only do The Church Lawyers assist churches and their qualifying ministers in applying this tax benefit, but our attorneys are up-to-date on the current legal challenges the housing allowance faces as its constitutionality is threatened through court proceedings.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION AND RABBI TRUST PLANS

Our attorneys help pastors and churches plan strategically for retirement and evaluate the various types of favorable retirement plans available to pastors through their church employment. A nonqualified deferred compensation plan, or rabbi trust, can be an effective means to plan for retirement for pastors as it makes it possible for a church to set aside amounts in a trust, so long as the arrangement complies with Section 409A of the federal tax code.