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John Bastow
New member
Username: Jbastow

Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2006

Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 3:02 pm:

I am interested in views on the question of PCC member expenses. I know we should not accept expenses but in practice we have, for example, a verger who receives a small payment for wedding attendance. We have considered making attendance of a church member mandatory at all commercial events such as concerts. There must be many such issues. How do people regard these?

Paul Barlow
New member
Username: Pbarlow

Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2006

Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 8:33 pm:

I cannot recall ever reimbursing expenses to a PCC member except when incurred in the course of some funding raising or other social event. If the verger is to receive an attendance allowance it should surely be paid by the Wedding Party, in addition to the usual fees.

In common with most treasurers I claim nothing for disbursements such as postage, stationery, floppy disks, printing ink etc - whereas it might be beneficial to do so and donate it back with the benefit of gift aid!

Steve Wells
New member
Username: Swells

Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2006

Posted on Sunday, November 5, 2006 - 11:58 am:

With reference to Paul Barlow's response, if the church places a mark up on such things as choir, organist, verger and bellringers fees, or indeed makes an administration charge on top of the diocesan fees, then all monies, both income and expenditure have to be declared in full in the church accounts.

Also, my understanding is that under the IR35 taxation rules introduced in about 2000, if a specific person regularly receives income as a result of the PCC's activities e.g. providing weddings and funerals, they are deemed to be an employee of the PCC and the normal NI & PAYE rules apply. This includes naming them on the PCCs end of year tax return. If the wedding or funeral find their own verger, organist etc without the help of the PCC, then that is a different matter - but many churches would provided named persons so IR35 applies.

At my church, all services and events go through the church accounts and the PCC pays those that help, even if that means taxing them. Were we can, the PCC pays the group (i.e. choir or bellringers) and it is up to the group to determine who gets paid and how much.

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