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› Steve
Merriman, EA &
CEO
› Zan Pensack-Rinehart, CFP
› Don Daniel, CPA
› David Cordova, CPA
Non-Profit Specialist
› Cheryl Hemphill
› Bill Daknis, EA
› Myron Berg, EA
Business Tax Specialist
› Sherrye Merriman, CFO
The Clergy Professionals
Steve Merriman, EA
Steve Merriman, President of Clergy FinancialSM, began his career
serving ministers rather by “accident.” He no longer believes
in “accidents.” After 31 years, he knows there is a plan behind
it.
While yet in school, he was asked some clergy tax-related questions,
Steve discussed the matter with one of his professors at Long Beach
State University of Southern California. The professor didn't have the answers, but taught
him how to research tax issues. Steve eventually became an expert
at finding answers to tough tax questions. He has since earned
a national reputation for his in-depth knowledge of tax regulations
and strategies, particularly as it pertains to Clergy Housing Allowance
Strategies and Issues.
As an Enrolled Agent (EA), Steve is federally licensed by the United States
Treasury Department to represent Taxpayers before the IRS in all 50 states. This federal license allows Clergy FinancialSM to work with ministers in all 50 states and numerous countries abroad. Steve has represented more than 500 ministers in IRS examinations and supervised the preparation of over 60,000 clergy tax returns in his career.
Steve and Clergy FinancialSM were intimately involved in the 2002 landmark court case dealing with the clergy housing allowance. As a result of this case, the U.S. Congress unanimously passed legislation called "The Clergy Housing Allowance Clarification Act of 2002" and President Bush signed it into law on May 22, 2002. Steve spent the better part of four years working on this project to help ensure the clergy housing allowance benefit for all ministers.
