The Affordable Care Act offered non-profits up to a 25% refund of healthcare expenses incurred on behalf of clergy and lay employees. Many of our churches have filed for all of their refunds yet many outstanding claims still exist. Outstanding claims can still be filed and change money from the US Treasury to funds for ministries and outreach … a far better use. Refunds rights for 2011 through 2013 are still available.
To make sure our NC Conference churches receive all the refunds possible, we have agreed to work with a company named Cost Stewardship to assist in determining who qualifies for a refund and to assist churches in the filing process. Please spend about two minutes of your time to complete the survey at the link provided below. No research is required … best guesses are fine as the survey is looking for round numbers and not finite answers at this point. There are a few requirements to be eligible for the health care credit refund – the survey will go through those requirements to help determine if your church is eligible. Your individual answers will help us shape a larger picture of refund accomplishments and needs for our conference. Results will be given back to us to review and share.
Cost Stewardship is a new resource available that will provide support to those requesting it. This service has been endorsed by the General Council on Finance and Administration as a service provider for assisting in getting refunds if a church would like to work with them. This is an optional service and is not mandatory. The service is paid if a church elects to use the service to file a claim and a refund is received. If so, the church is billed a percentage of the refund for the filing assistance.
Those having open potential claims from the two minute survey can elect to estimate your refunds (optional) with about 3-4 minutes of additional time. Thanks to all who participate in this survey so that we can work together to get a bigger picture of how this refund has worked out for our churches.