Fast offerings from full-time missionaries

[Mikerowaved]

When it comes time to print out tax statements for the missionaries who donated to FO, I would not bother trying to track them down.

Did I miss something? What's so difficult about getting their home address entered into the donor database and mailing their donation statement to them at the end of the year?

[russellhltn]

It is conceivable (although admittedly unlikely) that a missionary would actually want a tax-valid statement at the end of the year.

Here's a scenario: The missionary has some investments that earns taxable income during the year. Not common, but not twilight zone either. Given that he's a missionary, I'm not sure as he'd be able to declare himself as a dependent. So he'd need all the deductions he can get.

So while it looks good, I think it has the potential to turn around and bite a clerk or his successor in the rear.

[aebrown]

Did I miss something? What's so difficult about getting their home address entered into the donor database and mailing their donation statement to them at the end of the year?

It shouldn't be difficult. Especially since any missionary who wants a tax-valid statement would most likely take extra care to enter a correct home address on any donation slip.

Here's a scenario: The missionary has some investments that earns taxable income during the year. Not common, but not twilight zone either. Given that he's a missionary, I'm not sure as he'd be able to declare himself as a dependent. So he'd need all the deductions he can get.

That's one example of why I said it was conceivable that a missionary would need the tax-valid statement. We've had at least one missionary serve from our stake who was in his upper 20s and well established with his own business. He might well have needed deductions.

The bottom line is that the policies are in place for good reasons. Following them helps clerks to serve the donors better and avoid any audit problems.

[gregneg]

Did I miss something? What's so difficult about getting their home address entered into the donor database and mailing their donation statement to them at the end of the year?

Many missionaries do not have a stable home address ---- how many fast offerings have you seen that even have an address filled out?

I bundled up the no-address missionary receipts and sent them to the Mission Office. They at least have a built-in system to keep contact (and home) info current.

[Mikerowaved]

Many missionaries do not have a stable home address ---- how many fast offerings have you seen that even have an address filled out?

I was suggesting giving them a quick call or something if their home info was not filled out, so the donor database would have it at the end of the year. It's true that parents sometimes move, but if the Post Office can't forward it, I'll just get it back and store it.

I bundled up the no-address missionary receipts and sent them to the Mission Office. They at least have a built-in system to keep contact (and home) info current.

Hadn't thought of that. Good suggestion.

[nutterb]

If you're worried about the build up of multiple 'Elder X' donor entries in the system, you can always hide the donor. In the Finance menu, click on "Add/Update Donors", find the missionaries, and mark them as "Hidden." Their tax valid information will print out as usual, you just won't see them in the active donor list when you enter donations.

[marianomarini]

To prevent the build-up of too many donors named Elder Smith, Elder Johnson, Elder Smoot, etc., I finally created a donor named "Full-Time Missionaries" to funnel these donations to.

Here in Italy we use just one donor (MISSIONARI) for all missionaries.
Because in Italy there's no way to detract benefical donations to the Church, we have no problems.

[MorettiDP]

That's the same to Brazil. We use only "Missionários" or "Élderes" to missionary donations, to don't create 5 years records to each missionary that donate funds to our wards...

[westste014]

As a missionary, can I pay fast offerings online to the ward I'm currently serving in?

[jdlessley]

As a missionary, can I pay fast offerings online to the ward I'm currently serving in?

No. There is no way to designate an online donation to a ward other than the ward in which the missionary record is in (home unit) with the exception of donations for serving missionary categories.

If the intent is to provide fast offering assistance for members of the ward you are serving in, then the attempt to accomplish that is not necessary. All fast offering donations are swept from units and not retained by the unit. The Church provides the necessary funds for fast offering assistance in a unit without regard to fast offering contributions made from within the unit.