6 Best Church Payroll Services for 2022

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Payroll services are becoming an increasingly popular option for churches and other organizations. There is a wide variety of options available, but the best practices will vary depending on what type of organization you work with in order to help your church or nonprofit save money

Church payroll software is a service that helps churches keep track of their employees and pay them. These services are designed to make the process easier for the church. Read more in detail here: church payroll software.

6 Best Church Payroll Services for 2022

Churches and missions, like any other business, must conduct payroll and adhere to IRS tax regulations. Aside from handling standard pay processing, tax withholdings, and files at a reasonable cost, the finest church payroll services provide features like church-specific tax law knowledge that make payroll management simpler.

To identify the finest church payroll services, we looked at 13 companies and narrowed it down to our top six.

  • Gusto: The best overall payroll service for churches.
  • Payroll in QuickBooks is ideal for churches who use QuickBooks and need quick direct deposit alternatives.
  • Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United is ideal for churches looking for flexible payroll plans, as well as do-it-yourself (DIY) tax filings and full-service alternatives.
  • MinistryWorks is the best option for ministries that need a full-time payroll professional.
  • Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay is ideal for ministries searching for a cost-effective solution to distribute paychecks quickly.
  • Financial Resources for Clergy is ideal for congregations that want assistance with HR and payroll compliance.

Compare the Best Church Payroll Services

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Read our advice on how to pick a payroll service if you need assistance deciding which provider is best for your company.

Gusto: The best overall payroll service for churches.

Gusto

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AVERAGE RATING: 4.18 OUT OF 5

CRITERIA FOR RATING Features unique to the church 2.00 OUT OF 5
User-Friendliness 3.88 OUT OF 5
HR Benefits 4.00 OUT OF 5
Features of Payroll 4.75 OUT OF 5
Pricing 5.00 OUT OF 5
Popularity 5.00 OUT OF 5
Reporting 5.00 OUT OF 5

What We Enjoy

  • Pay runs that are both unlimited and automated
  • Employee self-onboarding portals are available online.
  • Integrates with a variety of third-party applications (like Aplos, Xero, Clover, and QuickBooks)

What Isn’t There

  • There is no designated payroll expert.
  • Coverage of health benefits is restricted to 39 states.
  • Only the upper levels have time tracking.

Pricing by Gusto

  • $39 per month for the core + $6 per employee each month
  • Complete: $39 per month plus $12 per month per employee
  • Concierge: $149/month + $12/month each employee
  • Contractor-only plan: $6 per month for each contractor

Gusto outperformed the competition because it provides full-service payroll, tax compliance, and basic HR Benefits at a low cost. It has an infinite number of pay runs, as well as automatic taxes and forms and state new hire reporting. Employees of the church are also given access to a self-service site where they may examine and retrieve their pay information online.

Gusto helps churches with payroll by enabling them to establish up tax exemptions for themselves and their preachers. It also works nicely with Aplos, a nonprofit fund accounting software that records payroll and tax payments for NGOs and churches automatically.

Overall, it received a 4.18 out of 5 rating. If not for the restricted coverage of its employee health benefits, it would have received better scores in our study. As of this writing, Gusto’s health insurance choices are only accessible in 39 states, compared to companies like Payroll in QuickBooks and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, who provide benefits in all 50 states. It also lacks a specialized payroll professional, like MinistryWorks, who can double-check your pay runs, as well as the services of a clergy tax expert, like Financial Resources for Clergy does.

However, many users still raved about its User-Friendliness, intuitive interface, and efficient payroll tools. Some, on the other hand, said that while it generally provides good customer service, contacting its support team can be a bit difficult at times.

Features of Gusto

  • Paying church personnel is simple with manual checks and direct payments in addition to automated and limitless pay runs (two- and four-day options). If you subscribe to its upper levels, it also provides next-day direct deposits. If you need speedier direct deposits, Payroll in QuickBooks is a wonderful choice since it offers same-day processing.
  • Tax payment and filing services: Gusto will take care of depositing and submitting your payroll taxes for you. You may create a church-specific tax exemption in the system since clergy may be free from some taxes (such as Medicare and Social Security). This is in contrast to Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United, which do not have built-in church payroll special codes.
  • Employee perks: Gusto offers a variety of benefits packages, including health insurance, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) plans, workers’ compensation, and a health reimbursement program. Benefits are available via MinistryWorks, Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, Financial Resources for Clergy, and Payroll in QuickBooks, but the variety is limited. Gusto’s health insurance plans, on the other hand, are not offered in 11 states (Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming). Consider Payroll in QuickBooks or Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay if your company is in one of these states. Employee benefits are not available via Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United.
  • Clergy housing allowance: Gusto makes it simple to set up a housing allowance for pastors and clergy. You may also set up a regular repayment for the permitted amount.
  • Gusto is the only church payroll software we examined that integrates perfectly with Aplos, making it simple to keep track of payroll and tax payments. It also works with QuickBooks, Xero, Homebase, and When I Work, among other third-party applications.
  • Custom reports: In addition to customisable reports, Gusto provides an online report builder that enables you to generate your own reports right from the system. Only Gusto and Payroll in QuickBooks include this functionality among the six church payroll programs we looked at.

Take a look at our Gusto review.

Payroll in QuickBooks: Best for Church QuickBooks Users & Churches Wanting Fast Direct Deposits

Payroll in QuickBooks

8-Best-Payroll-Software-for-Small-Businesses-in-2021

4.01 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

CRITERIA FOR RATING Features unique to the church 3.00 OUT OF 5
User-Friendliness 4.00 OUT OF 5
HR Benefits 4.38 OUT OF 5
Features of Payroll 4.13 OUT OF 5
Pricing 5.00 OUT OF 5
Popularity 2.50 OUT OF 5
Reporting 5.00 OUT OF 5

What We Enjoy

  • There are no limits to how much money you can make.
  • Direct deposits are available the next day and the same day.
  • Benefits are available in all 50 states of the United States.

What Isn’t There

  • Only higher levels have access to local tax payment and filing services.
  • Limited third-party integrations (primarily with QuickBooks products); to interface with other applications, you’ll require QuickBooks Accounting.
  • Only its top tier includes access to a personal HR counsel and 24/7 payroll assistance specialists.

Payroll in QuickBooks Pricing

  • $45 per month for the core + $4 each employee per month
  • Premium: $75 per month plus $8 per month each employee
  • Elite: $125/month Plus $10/month each employee

Payroll in QuickBooks is best for churches that handle their own bookkeeping using QuickBooks Online to seamlessly integrate their payroll information. Its Features unique to the church, like multiple pay types for housing allowances, also make it a good option. It offers unlimited payroll runs and you can send direct deposits to your employees’ bank accounts within 24 hours. With its Premium and Elite plans, you can even send payroll funds on the same day.

While Payroll in QuickBooks earned an overall score of 4.01 out of 5 in our evaluation, its rating was pulled down by a lack of in-house church tax experts (which Financial Resources for Clergy has) and the need to upgrade to its higher tiers for local payroll tax filing services. And unlike Gusto and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, it doesn’t integrate with a lot of third-party software—you need QuickBooks Accounting to access its integration options.

According to several customer testimonials, it provides a user-friendly platform that makes payment processing simple. However, some customers have complained that, although the company’s customer service agents are kind, the wait time to chat or contact with someone may be lengthy at times.

QuickBooks Features of Payroll

  • Fast direct deposits: Unlike the other church payroll services we reviewed in this guide, Payroll in QuickBooks offers same-day direct deposits in addition to a next-day option (which is its standard direct deposit turnaround time). You do have to subscribe to its Premium or Elite plan to gain access to same-day payouts.
  • Efficient pay processing: Payroll in QuickBooks provides automatic and There are no limits to how much money you can make. at no extra cost. This is unlike MinistryWorks where you are charged for each payroll run. It lets you set up church-specific tax exemptions and clergy housing allowances, and pays employees via direct deposits and paychecks.
  • Payroll tax filings: QuickBooks can handle payroll tax calculations and filings for federal and state, including end-of-year reports. While it calculates local taxes, it doesn’t file local tax forms unless you subscribe to its higher tiers. Of the six church payroll services we reviewed, only Payroll in QuickBooks doesn’t include tax filings for all levels in its starter tier.
  • Employee benefits: Unlike Gusto’s health insurance plans, which cover only 39 states, Payroll in QuickBooks’s employee benefits are available in all US states. However, if you’re looking for unique benefits like college savings plans and a health reimbursement option, consider Gusto. Financial Resources for Clergy also offers a health reimbursement plan but for an additional fee.
  • Expert payroll support: Even with the most basic Core plan, you’ll have access to payroll support professionals who can be reached by phone or chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you need troubleshooting or step-by-step guidance. However, we suggest MinistryWorks (which sends a specialized church payroll consultant to each of its customers) and Financial Resources for Clergy if you need help with clergy payroll (it has clergy tax experts).
  • Custom reports: In addition to customizable reporting, Payroll in QuickBooks (like Gusto) lets you build and create your own reports directly from its system.

Read Our Payroll in QuickBooks Review

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United is the best option for churches looking for a cost-effective payroll solution. Payroll Plans With a Do-It-Yourself Tax Filing Option

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United

6-Best-Church-Payroll-Services-for-2022

3.49 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

CRITERIA FOR RATING Features unique to the church 2.00 OUT OF 5
User-Friendliness 3.25 OUT OF 5
HR Benefits 1.38 OUT OF 5
Features of Payroll 3.25 OUT OF 5
Pricing 5.00 OUT OF 5
Popularity 5.00 OUT OF 5
Reporting 5.00 OUT OF 5

What We Enjoy

  • Priced reasonably
  • There are no limits to how much money you can make.
  • Has a variety of customizable programs, including low-cost DIY tax filing and full-service payroll.

What Isn’t There

  • It takes four days to get a direct deposit.
  • Reporting and integration possibilities are limited.
  • Employee benefits are lacking, as is a specialized payroll expert.

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United Pricing

  • Basic Payroll with Do-It-Yourself Taxes: $10 per month + $4 per employee each month
  • Full Payroll Service: $30 per month + $4 per employee each month
  • Full Service Payroll + HR Software: $36/month + $6/month per employee
  • $42 per month + $8 per employee per month for full service payroll, HR, and time and attendance

Services offered as an add-on

  • Filing taxes in several states costs $12 per month for each extra state.
  • 1099 e-filings (for Basic Payroll members only): $20 for up to five 1099 e-filings; for six to 35 filings, an extra $2 per 1099 is needed (no additional charge for 36 or more)

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United is a good option for small churches as it offers flexible and affordably priced payroll plans. Its basic service that includes DIY tax filings costs only $10 plus $4 per employee monthly. It lets you process There are no limits to how much money you can make. and pay church employees through direct deposit or manual checks. With its full-service option, you don’t have to worry about tax payments and filings (federal, state, and local) since Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United will handle it for you.

Overall, it earned a score of 3.49 out of 5. What prevented this provider from getting higher ratings in our evaluation includes its Reporting and integration possibilities are limited.. While you can set up and create deductions for health insurance or retirement plans, it doesn’t offer employee benefits options like most of the other providers do (particularly Gusto and Payroll in QuickBooks, which both have a robust selection). And unlike MinistryWorks, you won’t get a personal payroll specialist to help check your pay runs.

Patriot Features of Payroll

  • Affordability: Its Basic Payroll option may not include tax filing services, but at $10 plus $4 per employee monthly, the cost is budget-friendly, especially for small ministries. Even if you decide to upgrade to its Full Service Payroll tier, the monthly cost of $30 plus $4 per employee is still quite reasonable. Although if you have the budget to get Patriot’s full payroll services, you may want to consider Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay. It is slightly more expensive if you have 1+ employee (at $35 plus $5 per employee monthly) but you get employee benefits options like healthcare and retirement plans—features that Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United doesn’t offer.
  • Efficient pay processing: In addition to There are no limits to how much money you can make., you can pay church employees via paychecks and direct deposits. However, Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United doesn’t have same-day direct deposits like Payroll in QuickBooks, plus you have to set up tax codes so that its system can handle minister pay. This is unlike MinistryWorks and Financial Resources for Clergy, which have church-specific codes already built into their systems.
  • Tax filing services: Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United can handle tax payments and filings, including year-end reporting of federal, state, and local taxes—provided you subscribe to its Full Service Payroll plan.
  • Professional payroll support: If you have any payroll-related questions, you may contact expert assistance through phone, email, or chat. The best part is that this service is completely free. If you need personal payroll and clergy tax assistance, MinistryWorks provides personal payroll professionals who can analyze pay runs, and Financial Resources for Clergy has counselors who can help you with church-specific tax rules.

Read Our Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United Review

MinistryWorks is the best option for ministries that need a full-time payroll professional.

MinistryWorks

1648386799_626_6-Best-Church-Payroll-Services-for-2022

3.44 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

CRITERIA FOR RATING Features unique to the church 5.00 OUT OF 5
User-Friendliness 4.00 OUT OF 5
HR Benefits 2.38 OUT OF 5
Features of Payroll 4.25 OUT OF 5
Pricing 3.50 OUT OF 5
Popularity 0.00 OUT OF 5
Reporting 2.00 OUT OF 5

What We Enjoy

  • Payroll and tax filings are also automated.
  • Reports on new hires are kept in the files.
  • You’ll have access to a dedicated payroll expert.

What Isn’t There

  • Fees for each pay run
  • Benefits alternatives are limited.
  • Only a few third-party software connectors are available.

Pricing for MinistryWorks*

  • $8.75 per pay run on a weekly basis
  • $11.25 per pay run for biweekly paycheck
  • Payroll twice a month: $11.67 per pay run
  • $17.08 per pay run on a monthly basis

*Pricing is based on MinistryWorks’ online calculator, which calculates expected fees for one employee and several payroll frequencies. To get a quotation, contact the provider.

MinistryWorks is a church payroll program that focuses on clergy and ministry taxation. It manages all federal, state, and local tax filings, as well as running payroll and paying your workers through checks and direct deposits. It controls tax withholdings and deductions, as well as providing you with a personal payroll consultant, in addition to ACA reporting.

Overall, it earned a score of 3.44 out of 5 in our evaluation. MinistryWorks didn’t score as highly as Gusto and Payroll in QuickBooks because it doesn’t offer There are no limits to how much money you can make., quick direct deposits, or a report builder for creating custom reports. It also has limited integration options with third-party software and the number of up-to-date user reviews available online are slim. However, users appreciate that its software is easy to use and its dedicated payroll specialists are responsive and helpful.

MinistryWorks Highlights

  • Efficient pay processing: With MinistryWorks, you are granted access to church payroll services designed to handle the pay processing and tax calculation needs of ministries. It offers automatic payroll runs, and you can pay employees via manual checks and direct deposits. It does not, however, provide same-day direct deposits as Payroll in QuickBooks does. If you want to run payroll as many times as you need without having to pay extra, we recommend any of the other providers included in our guide, all of which offer There are no limits to how much money you can make..
  • MinistryWorks takes care of federal, state, and local payroll tax filings, as well as year-end tax reporting. You’ll also obtain help with tax law compliance and workers’ compensation audits.
  • Employee benefits: In addition to pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation and clergy housing allowances, MinistryWorks offers health care reporting and employee eligibility status tracking. However, if you’re looking for more benefits options, consider Payroll in QuickBooks or Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay. Gusto is also a good alternative, but its health insurance plans aren’t available in all US states.
  • Dedicated payroll support: QuickBooks may include expert payroll support even in its basic Core plan, but MinistryWorks provides a personal payroll specialist who can help review and check pay runs to all of its clients. Note that Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay don’t offer this service, while Financial Resources for Clergy and Gusto either charge extra for it or the service is included in the highest tier.

Take a look at our MinistryWorks review.

Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay is ideal for ministries that need to pay employee direct deposits quickly using a cash app.

Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay

Best-Online-Payroll-Services-for-2021

3.43 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

CRITERIA FOR RATING Features unique to the church 0.00 OUT OF 5
User-Friendliness 4.13 OUT OF 5
HR Benefits 3.75 OUT OF 5
Features of Payroll 4.13 OUT OF 5
Pricing 4.50 OUT OF 5
Popularity 2.50 OUT OF 5
Reporting 5.00 OUT OF 5

What We Enjoy

  • Affordability
  • Tax payments and filings that are automated
  • There are no limits to how much money you can make.

What Isn’t There

  • There is no specialized payroll professional for the church.
  • Customization of reports is limited.
  • Phone help needs a customer code, and the company’s customer service staff might be difficult to contact at times.

Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay Pricing

  • Employees and contractors are paid at a rate of $35 per month plus $5 per employee each month.
  • Contractors are paid just once a month, at a rate of $5 per contractor.

With Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, you are assured that you will have access to affordably priced tools (cheapest on our list for the value it provides—i.e., benefit options that Patriot doesn’t offer) that will help you automatically process payroll, calculate and file quarterly and annual taxes, and manage employee benefits (like health and workers’ compensation). It also allows you to pay employees by paychecks and direct deposits or instantly via Cash App, with no additional charge—faster than other providers on our list (except QuickBooks, which charges a premium for same-day deposit).

Earning an overall score of 3.43 out of 5, Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay didn’t get higher marks in our evaluation because it doesn’t offer Features unique to the church such as built-in payroll codes for ministers and a dedicated clergy payroll expert (functionalities that MinistryWorks provides). You also can’t create custom reports directly from its system like you can with Gusto and Payroll in QuickBooks. Plus, getting phone support can be difficult, with wait times that can be a bit long and a required customer code to contact its support team.

However, we still included Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay in our list of best church payroll services given its low-cost payroll, tax filing, and employee benefits solutions. Many users said that its Affordability is one of Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay’s best features. They also like that it has a user-friendly platform that helps them save time when processing payroll.

Square Features of Payroll

  • Low-cost payroll: Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay offers full-service payroll that is more affordable than other popular providers like Gusto and Payroll in QuickBooks. While its monthly fee beyond one employee is slightly more expensive than Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United’s Full Service plan ($30 plus $4 per employee monthly), Square provides more features—like multiple payment options and access to healthcare and retirement plans. However, if you’re willing to handle payroll tax filing yourself, then Patriot’s basic tier is a cheaper option, costing only $10 plus $4 per employee monthly.
  • Efficient pay processing: With Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, you get automatic and There are no limits to how much money you can make. in addition to Tax payments and filings that are automated (including year-end reporting). But if you want a payroll solution with built-in, church-specific codes, then MinistryWorks and Financial Resources for Clergy are great alternatives. And while Gusto, Payroll in QuickBooks, and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United may not have built-in codes, their online tools are robust enough to handle church payroll services.
  • Employee payments using the Square Cash App: In addition to direct deposits and paychecks, the Square Cash App for iOS and Android smartphones allows you to deliver employee payments quickly. This feature is not available in any of the other church payroll programs we looked at.

Read Our Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay Review

Financial Resources for Clergy: Best for Churches Needing HR & Payroll Compliance Help

Financial Resources for Clergy

1648386800_754_6-Best-Church-Payroll-Services-for-2022

3.11 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

CRITERIA FOR RATING Features unique to the church 3.50 OUT OF 5
User-Friendliness 3.75 OUT OF 5
HR Benefits 2.38 OUT OF 5
Features of Payroll 3.75 OUT OF 5
Pricing 3.75 OUT OF 5
Popularity 0.00 OUT OF 5
Reporting 2.00 OUT OF 5

What We Enjoy

  • There are no limits to how much money you can make.
  • Provides HR advice.
  • For new customers, there is a 12-month price guarantee.

What Isn’t There

  • For tiny churches, it is too expensive.
  • Support and health benefits are not included in the price.
  • There is a one-time setup cost.
  • Benefits, reporting, and third-party integration possibilities are limited.

Financial Resources for Clergy Pricing

  • For up to two workers on a monthly paycheck, it starts at $61 per month.

Services offered as an add-on

  • Plans for church benefits range from $295 to $395 per plan.
  • Support from a Pro Advisor costs $75 for a 30-minute appointment.
  • On-demand clergy assistance costs $355 per year.
  • The cost of premium church support is $1,200 per year.
  • HR assistance programs cost between $120 and $720 per year.
  • Expenses for clergy tax preparation are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Financial Resources for Clergy is a great option for ministries as an all-inclusive church payroll software that provides HR and clergy tax guidance. It runs unlimited payrolls, files quarterly and year-end tax reports, and calculates and pays both federal and state taxes electronically. You are also granted access to a clergy tax expert and a payroll specialist, plus it offers HR support to help you stay compliant and manage the complexities of church HR—although many of these services cost extra.

Overall, it scored 3.11 out of 5 in our evaluation. This provider ranked the lowest in our list of best church payroll services because its third-party integration, benefits, and reporting options are limited. Financial Resources for Clergy also is more expensive than the five other payroll providers in this guide because you have to pay extra for expert support and employee benefits in addition to its church payroll services. And while its online user reviews aren’t as numerous as popular payroll software, most of the feedback is positive with reviewers commending its robust church payroll and tax filing services, including its responsive dedicated specialists.

Financial Resources for Clergy Features

  • Efficient pay processing: With Financial Resources for Clergy, you can run payroll as many times as you need and want. It supports church-specific codes and can handle clergy-related allowances with ease. It also lets you pay employees via direct deposit but doesn’t have Payroll in QuickBooks’s same-day options.
  • Payroll tax payments and filings: In addition to electronic payroll tax payments (federal, state, and local), Financial Resources for Clergy can handle quarterly and end-of-year tax reporting. However, if you’re looking for a more cost-efficient option, consider Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay as it provides full-service pay processing and tax filing services for only $35 plus $5 per employee monthly.
  • Clergy tax, payroll, and HR compliance support: You get a wide range of support services from Financial Resources for Clergy to help you stay compliant as you tackle the intricacies of handling church-related tax, payroll, and HR issues—it only services churches. While you have to pay extra for these, Financial Resources for Clergy’ church compliance support is more extensive than that from providers like Gusto, Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United.

Read Our Financial Resources for Clergy Review

How Did We Pick the Best Church Payroll Services?

We analyzed 13 church payroll software suppliers, searching for features that we feel are most relevant to churches and missions. These features include church-specific payroll and tax administration capabilities, as well as features that make the service simple to use. We also looked at companies that provide small enterprises with various pricing alternatives.

To see our complete assessment criteria, click through the categories in the box below.

15%

Features unique to the church

20% of the overall score

We gave priority to those that offer automatic payroll runs, direct deposit with an option to process paper checks, and access to tax payment and filing, including year-end forms filing (W-2s and 1099s). Most of the payroll providers we reviewed earned 4 and above ratings in this criterion except for Financial Resources for Clergy (it lacks multiple payment options) and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United (you have to get its premium Full Service plan if you want the provider to handle tax filings).

20% of the overall score

We looked at the monthly implementation costs, processing costs, and set-up and year-end fees. Preference was given to providers that are affordable since churches and ministries are not-for-profit organizations. Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United, Gusto, and Payroll in QuickBooks may have scored perfect marks here, but if you’re looking for a Priced reasonably church payroll service, then MinistryWorks is a great option because it offers lower rates if you have more employees.

20% of the overall score

Payroll service and software should be easy to access and simple to set up and have a user-friendly interface. A dedicated representative, as well as employer ID and tax set-up assistance, are top criteria. Sometimes, churches are on the lookout for HR advising and online resources or how-to guides. All of the six church payroll software we reviewed have online tools that are easy to learn, but if you want expert payroll support that doesn’t cost extra or isn’t included in a premium tier, then Payroll in QuickBooks, MinistryWorks, and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay are good alternatives.

15% of the overall score

We gave priority to church payroll services that have expertise in the unique tax treatment of clergy housing allowances and tax exemptions. We also looked into providers that integrate well with existing church accounting systems and/or time clocks. While MinistryWorks scored the highest here, you may want to consider Financial Resources for Clergy since it offers a robust selection of support plans to help you handle the complexities of church payroll and clergy tax (but has limited integration options).

10% of the overall score

Online onboarding, which means giving employees the option to fill out forms like W-4 and W-9 electronically, is the top criterion; following closely behind is the ability to offer a self-service portal that employees can use to see payments made, edit information, and/or print forms. Of the six providers we reviewed, only Payroll in QuickBooks, Gusto, and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay offer employee portals with online onboarding.

10% of the overall score

We considered user reviews, including those of our competitors, based on a 5-star scale; any option with an average of 4+ stars is ideal. Also, any software with 1,000+ reviews on any third-party site is preferred. We also searched for reviews left specifically by churches. The providers that didn’t get a perfect score here include Payroll in QuickBooks and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay (both have fewer than 1,000 reviews) and MinistryWorks and Financial Resources for Clergy (neither have user reviews on online sites like G2 and Capterra).

5% of the overall score

Software with standard payroll reports is considered robust, as well as those that are customizable and/or have functionality allowing users to build their own reports. All of the six church payroll software we reviewed offer standard payroll reports, but if you want to create custom reports directly on its platform, consider either Payroll in QuickBooks or Gusto since both have a report builder.

*Percentages based on total score

Conclusion

Churches and ministries have more complex needs than most small enterprises, and they need experience in clergy tax legislation and church payroll practices. There are a variety of church payroll options to pick from, depending on your budget. Apart from price, the finest church payroll software should have features that assist ministries in effectively paying clergy and non-clergy staff while being tax compliant.

We discovered that Gusto has all of the capabilities that churches need to make payroll and tax compliance easier. It’s simple to use and takes care of tax filings for you, and the pricing is competitive with other church payroll systems. Today is the last day to sign up for a free trial.

Gusto is a great place to visit.

The “church financial resources” is a list of 6 best church payroll services for 2022. The article includes the following information: what type of service, how much it costs, and whether or not they are available online.

Related Tags

  • church payroll rules
  • ministry works pricing
  • clergy payroll
  • how to set up church payroll
  • gusto payroll
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