Deductions & credits

Most pastors are not really self-employed, they are considered self-employed for income tax purposes, but if you work under the direction of an body that has authority to hire and fire you, set your compensation and working conditions, and so on (like a board of elders, or a bishop or representative of your denomination) then you are a common law employee and should receive a W-2 with your wages in box 1.  (Boxes 2-6 should be blank because the church should not be withholding taxes.)

 

More information is here, https://go.efca.org/resources/document/preparing-tax-returns-clergy

 

In any case, it is almost always better for married spouses to file a joint return, even if your employment status is different.