If you have a giving envelope number, you should have received your year-end giving statement in the past week. I thought you might have some questions about the statements that you never had the chance to ask.
Why do I receive a statement? Why don't I receive statement?
Year-end giving statements are sent to (1) everyone who has a giving envelope number or (2) anyone who contributed at least $250 or more at one time (the $250 threshold is an IRS-mandated limit). If neither of those criteria were met then you did not receive a statement.
Why do I have to use giving envelopes to receive a statement?
The giving envelopes are our system for keeping track of contributions in as confidential a manner as possible. If you watched Mission Impossible, it’s somewhat similar to NOC list. We work hard to keep your private information confidential.
What if the church’s statement doesn’t agree with my personal records?
Note the discrepancies and send in the business reply envelope to our accountants, Hamilton & Musser.
Why do I have to send it to the accountants instead of talking to the church office?
Our accountants keep us accountable to processing your contributions correctly. To maintain a high standard of checks and balances, any discrepancies should first be reported to the accountants.
If I find a discrepancy with the church’s statement, does it really make a difference?
Absolutely! If we made a mistake, we need to know and to correct it. Plus, it’s important that your records be accurate for your filings with the IRS.
What happens when I report a discrepancy to the accountants?
They make note of the discrepancy and ask the church office to investigate it. In many cases, we simply made a mistake. In those cases, we ask the donor to show us proof of the contribution. If there are other issues, we contact the donor to work through the issues.
How can I help?
- If you don’t have numbered envelopes, contact the church office to request them
- Always use your numbered envelope with every contribution
- Print clearly when writing your checks and filling out the giving envelope
- When you use your numbered envelope be sure to write the total contribution amount on the outside of the envelope
