We Can Do for Your Church and Pastor What Others Wish They Could Do
Within the halls of both Houses of Congress in our Nation’s Capital are lobbyists who are busily attempting to influence the House and Senate in favor of their clients. This has been part of the political process for years.
Although we do not have a professional lobbyist in Washington, D.C. we work diligently with representatives, doing everything within our power, to ensure that there is a voice for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is evident by two programs that have been put on the back burner that would have negatively affected the Church and local Pastor.
The first is that of requiring Social Security Numbers for tax donation credit. Although the IRS still has plans to implement this fully, due to diligent efforts we have been able to get them to list this program as only voluntary. This has bought the Churches some time to implement strategies to prevent any reduction in charitable giving when the IRS does initiate a full-blown SSAN demand for tax deductible charitable gifts.
The second victory for us is the decision to keep the Social Security wage base unchanged for 2016. This will possibly change in 2017 and it is huge. The plans to increase Social Security to 19.6% may likely be implemented in this coming year. If so, it will be devastating for Pastors and Ministers who have not opted out of Social Security Retirement.
For Pastors and Ministers who remain in the Social Security Retirement System this is the equivalent of a 5% pay decrease for 2017.
These are just two of the many areas that we took to task for Pastors, Ministers, and Churches across America.
A Friend You Can Count On
This is not something that Chitwood and Chitwood just started. We have been diligently working for Pastors, Ministers, and Churches for more than 78 years! The reason? For us it is “A Ministry – Not A Job!”
Just as Pastors have been called to preach the Gospel, win sinners to Christ, and be a Shepherd for the “flock,” we have been called to make sure that the job of the Pastor and Minister, and the function of the Church does not get bogged down with the minutiae that the world attempts to lay at the feet of the Church, which will keep Church and Pastor from fulfilling the Great Commission.
Friends are a unique bunch that comes in all types of packaging. There are the fair weather friends who are there for you during the good times. There are the friends that are “need-based” friends and are connected to you because of what you may do for them. As long as you can help them they are by your side. Then there are the real friends. These are friends who are not only with you during the good times, but also during the bad. This is Chitwood and Chitwwod. We have stood with more Pastors, Ministers, and Churches during financial and/or tax crises than any other Church Financial Firm in the USA. If you are our clients, we don’t lose. If you are not, but connect with us after the fact, we stay by your side through thick and thin, fighting diligently for your vindication (It is much easier and cheaper for us to keep the IRS from you than it is to get them off of you).
This is why we are unique in what we do! There are many copycats in America, but only one original. It is like an artist’s painting – he has the original from which many prints are made. The print may be okay, but it does not have the value of the original. In the art world only one person may own the original, while the rest settle for a copy. However, with Pastor, Minister, and Church finances, everyone can have the original – Chitwood and Chitwood. Why settle for a copy, when the original is at your fingertips?
In Closing
For years I have lived by an old proverb: “You are stuck with family, but you can choose your friends.” You will choose us because of our reputation, our quality of work, and because no situation is too hard for us – we are the best and will not leave you.
As the New Year is ushered in, every Pastor and Minister should make the change they know they need to make for their ministry and their Church. Do not go through 2017 without us in your corner.
Call 800-344-0076 NOW or visit us at www.cmtc.org to for the nearest Church and Clergy tax Conference. If you attend a conference you will have the opportunity to engage our Church and Clergy tax professionals at a huge discounted rate. Our guarantee is that we will not leave you, but work above and beyond to make sure your ministry, your Church, and your personal finances remain in compliance and worry free.
