wfn.org | Bishop Asks Fair Tax Application

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3244 notes).

Note 3242 by UMNS on Oct. 21, 1996 at 16:24 Eastern (2140 characters).

SEARCH: self-employed, tax, Weber case, White, President
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Ralph E. Baker                         528(10-71B){3242}
          Nashville, Tenn.  (615)742-5470            Oct. 21, 1996

Bishop's letter appeals for fairness following
court decision on clergy self-employed status

                 by United Methodist News Service

     An appeal for fair treatment of United Methodist clergy by
the Internal Revenue Service has been sent to President Clinton
and members of Congress by Bishop Woodie W. White, president of
the denomination's Council of Bishops.
     The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1995 upheld an earlier
tax court ruling that United Methodist Clergy, for tax purposes,
are not self-employed but are employees of the church.
     " ... I urge you to help alleviate an injustice caused by the
retroactive application of a 1995 court decision," Bishop Woodie
W. White of Indiana Area, wrote to President Clinton on Sept. 26. 
"Specifically we respectfully request that the Secretary of the
Treasury use his authority under section 7805(b)(8) of the
Internal Revenue Code to apply the 1995 decision without
retroactive effect." 
     White pointed out that applying the court decision
retroactively would have disastrous financial consequences for
approximately 30,000 United Methodist clergy. "They face the
disallowance of business deductions, interest and penalties for
many prior tax years," he wrote.
     Expressing disagreement with the court's decision in the case
against the Rev. Michael D. Weber, a North Carolina clergyman,
White said he believes "the greatest injustice would be to allow
its retroactive application against clergy who acted in good
faith."
     In an Oct. 1 letter to the U.S. Senate Finance and the House
Ways and Means Committees, White concluded, "Your help in raising
this issue with the Secretary of the Treasury would be greatly
appreciated."
                              #  #  #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------