Office of Accounting

The Office of Accounting is here to give advice and answer any questions you may have about church finances. Our office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For any questions you may have, please email Accounting, or call 318.448.3402.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

IRS Group Exemption Changes

The IRS has changed the rules governing Group Exemption Letters and your church needs to take action to remain included in the Group Exemption Letter of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Be looking for an important letter and information coming to your church through the mail.

Have Questions?
Group Exemption hotline
318.449.4204
GroupExemption@LBC.org

Documents:

Letter to Churches
Agreement to Participate
Articles of Incorporation (Article VI: Membership)
Baptist Faith and Message
IRS Document

AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN GROUP EXEMPTION LETTER OF LOUISIANA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Fill out the agreement online. Please provide the information in the form below and you will be redirected to the Agreement Document.

Church Name(Required)

Church Email(Required)

Church Representative(Required)

First Last

CAPTCHA

Church Remittance:

Please make checks payable to the Louisiana Baptist Convention

Download Remittance Form

Common Questions:

Questions about Church and Minister’s Taxes
TAX and ACCOUNTING RESOURCES:

A good site for help on minister’s taxes is “Church & Clergy Tax Guide” www.churchlawtoday.com

Guidestone, “Resources”, “Tax Tools” guidestone.org

IRS irs.gov

Social Security socialsecurity.gov and socialsecurity.gov/employer

Louisiana Department of Revenue revenue.louisiana.gov
Can church members designate gifts to an individual?
Where do we get information about the 501(c) 3 IRS group exemption number?

We can provide our IRS 501(c) 3 group exemption number only to churches that are listed in the Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual. This number can be used to obtain nonprofit discounts at hotels, on nonprofit mailings and on donations. Please note that this number cannot be used to exempt your church from paying sales taxes. Please contact the LBC Accounting office at (318) 448-3402 for information about receiving information on our 501(c) 3 exemption status.
Are churches in Louisiana exempt from paying sales tax?

Currently there is not a state sales tax exemption for Louisiana churches. You will need to check with your local parish and city to determine if your local government allows any sales tax exemption for churches.

R.S 47:301(8)(d) provided a sales tax exemption for Louisiana churches for the purchase of bibles, song books or literature for use in religious instruction classes. A preliminary injunction barring enforcement of this sales tax exemption for churches has been issued by the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans Secular Humanist Association, Inc. v, Bridges (No,. 04-3165, 04/17/2006). Because of this injunction churches in Louisiana must pay state sales and use tax on all purchases and may not present an exemption certificate in lieu of paying the tax. If and when the injunction is lifted, the sales tax exemption certificates will once again be valid.
Where and when do we send our Cooperative Program and designated giving?

Your Cooperative Program gifts and other designation gifts must be sent to LBC by the last day of each month. If we receive your check after the end of the month then your designations will be applied to the following month. Please send designations to:

Louisiana Baptists
PO Box 311
Alexandria, LA 71309
Attention: Accounting Department

If you have any questions, please email Accounting

We appreciate our Louisiana Baptist churches and are privileged to be able to assist you with information on your accounting and tax questions.

Search Our Site

Stay Informed

E-Newsletter Sign Up