International workers have their Ministry Expense amounts included with their needs-based salary.  Therefore, this ME bonus page applies only to U.S.-based employees.  

Overview


Ministry Expense Bonus

Ministry Expense (ME) Bonus is available for Reliant employees (associates are not eligible) to cover reasonable and necessary taxable expenses through a monthly payroll addition. The Ministry Expense Bonuses paid are proportionate to the hours worked, must relate closely to actual expenses incurred, and also provide a reasonable financial standard under which to operate. 

The ME Bonus is for employees to cover routine, ongoing ministry expenses. This taxable bonus will be added to a paycheck each month. Expenses covered by an employee’s ME bonus include; meals with co-workers, gifts for co-workers, monthly internet costs, local mileage (under 50 miles one-way) and tolls for normal commutes for local ministry, local parking under $10, HSA employee contribution (if on Reliant’s medical insurance plan), other routine and ongoing ministry expenses. Routine and ongoing expenses in the example categories are designated for recovery solely through the ME Bonus and are not eligible to be submitted by U.S. employees for reimbursement through any other submission types. Field workers may set the monthly ME bonus amount they think is appropriate to cover their typically incurred monthly expenses (up to the limits set below). The ME Bonus amounts are submitted during support goal submission.

Monthly phone plan costs are calculated separately on the employee support goal submission to be entered as non-taxable and should not be included in the total taxable amount requested for the ME bonus. 


Key Change to the Standard:  Previously the ME bonus was broken down into individual expense category maximum amounts. Reliant is now asking U.S. field workers to determine the appropriate total bonus amount (up to a specific, designated monthly total) based on the amount needed for the individual field worker. The total amount that can be received for routine, ongoing monthly expenses has been increased when you include the monthly mobile phone service non-taxable payment below in the support goal submission total.

The local mileage amount has also changed from 100 miles to 50 miles. Mileage over 50 miles one-way is now eligible to be submitted through an expense submission.


Monthly Mobile Phone Service


Employees may request through support goal submission, a tax-free, monthly recurring payment in their paycheck for monthly phone services. Field workers may set the monthly mobile phone service amount they think is appropriate to cover their typically incurred monthly phone service expenses (up to the limits set below). 


Key Change to the Standard: Mobile phone service costs used to be included in the ME bonus total, which resulted in additional taxable income for field staff. Under the new Standard, mobile phone service costs are tax deductible. Paid employees may now submit a request through their support goal to recover monthly phone service payments through a non-taxable monthly amount included in their paycheck. This monthly request is distinct from a one-time phone purchase reimbursed through the normal expense submission.


See Reimbursement and Expense Recovery Bonus Standard for more details on expense submission.

Steps

1. Submit a Support Goal with your desired bonus amounts

Resource: Support Goal on Staffnet

2. Receive your bonus amounts in your monthly paycheck


YOUR LIAISONS

"We're your first point of contact! And would love to help with any questions you may have. Please reach out."

Collegiate

U.S. Churches & Ministries

Internships & Residencies

Kathy Zellinger 

kathy.zellinger@reliant.org

407-502-0995


                                        


Liz Svajda

liz.svajda@reliant.org

407-490-0241

Carly Erskine

carly.erskine@reliant.org

407-901-0862