The Catholic CPA
Matthew R. Plese, CPA
Certified Public Accountant — Licensed in the State of Illinois
The Catholic CPA is run by Matthew Plese, who lives and works in Chicago, Illinois. The practice serves priests, deacons, seminarians, and members of religious institutes across the country, along with Catholic parishes, schools, apostolates, as well as many families, individuals, and small businesses. Returns are prepared remotely for clients in any state.
Matthew obtained a degree in Business and Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas (MN), where he graduated summa cum laude. He holds a Certificate in Catechesis from Catholic Distance University, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from DePaul University in Chicago, and a license from the State of Illinois to serve as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He passed all four parts of the CPA examination on his first attempt, scoring 90% or higher on each and earning a perfect score on the Auditing section.
Matthew has work experience with some of the largest accounting firms in the world, including Deloitte and PwC. He has worked with individuals and organizations in matters ranging from tax preparation, tax consulting, financial statement preparation and review, financial planning and budgeting, variance analysis, and a variety of niche accounting and finance needs.
Clergy taxation is its own discipline. Priests are treated as employees for income tax purposes but as self-employed for Social Security purposes; the housing allowance must be designated in advance by the parish or diocese to be excludable; business expenses attributable to tax-free housing income must be allocated under the Deason rule; and the exemption from self-employment tax on Form 4361, once granted, cannot be undone. These are provisions most preparers encounter rarely, if ever. Matthew works with them every filing season.
Matthew is the President of CatechismClass.com, an online-based organization whose mission is to make the best in Catholic religious education and Sacramental preparation available for those who need it. He writes a weekly column for the Fatima Center. He is also the author of “Catholic Book Summaries: 54 Traditional and Contemporary Classics”; “Eschatology: The Catholic Study of the Four Last Things”; “Understanding the Precepts of the Church”; and “The Roman Catechism Explained for the Modern World.”
Matthew believes that accounting and finance carry a responsibility to abide by the law while making full and legitimate use of the deductions, credits, and provisions the tax code provides, so that individuals and organizations keep as much of what they earn as the law allows. He is committed above all to the common good of society and the good of souls.
© 2018 - 2026 The Catholic CPA
Matthew R. Plese, CPA
Certified Public Accountant — Licensed in the State of Illinois
The Catholic CPA is run by Matthew Plese, who lives and works in Chicago, Illinois. The practice serves priests, deacons, seminarians, and members of religious institutes across the country, along with Catholic parishes, schools, apostolates, as well as many families, individuals, and small businesses. Returns are prepared remotely for clients in any state.
Matthew obtained a degree in Business and Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas (MN), where he graduated summa cum laude. He holds a Certificate in Catechesis from Catholic Distance University, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from DePaul University in Chicago, and a license from the State of Illinois to serve as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He passed all four parts of the CPA examination on his first attempt, scoring 90% or higher on each and earning a perfect score on the Auditing section.
Matthew has work experience with some of the largest accounting firms in the world, including Deloitte and PwC. He has worked with individuals and organizations in matters ranging from tax preparation, tax consulting, financial statement preparation and review, financial planning and budgeting, variance analysis, and a variety of niche accounting and finance needs.
Clergy taxation is its own discipline. Priests are treated as employees for income tax purposes but as self-employed for Social Security purposes; the housing allowance must be designated in advance by the parish or diocese to be excludable; business expenses attributable to tax-free housing income must be allocated under the Deason rule; and the exemption from self-employment tax on Form 4361, once granted, cannot be undone. These are provisions most preparers encounter rarely, if ever. Matthew works with them every filing season.
Matthew is the President of CatechismClass.com, an online-based organization whose mission is to make the best in Catholic religious education and Sacramental preparation available for those who need it. He writes a weekly column for the Fatima Center. He is also the author of “Catholic Book Summaries: 54 Traditional and Contemporary Classics”; “Eschatology: The Catholic Study of the Four Last Things”; “Understanding the Precepts of the Church”; and “The Roman Catechism Explained for the Modern World.”
Matthew believes that accounting and finance carry a responsibility to abide by the law while making full and legitimate use of the deductions, credits, and provisions the tax code provides, so that individuals and organizations keep as much of what they earn as the law allows. He is committed above all to the common good of society and the good of souls.