Paying LDS Tithing Online Using Bill Pay – A Complete Guide

Paying tithing is an important part of being an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Traditionally, Latter-day Saints would fill out a tithing slip and hand deliver cash or checks to their local bishop or branch president. However, in recent years, the Church has embraced online technology to make paying tithing more convenient for busy members. One of the approved online methods for paying LDS tithing is through bill pay services offered by banks and credit unions.

What is Bill Pay?

Bill pay is a service provided by most banks and credit unions that allows their customers to pay bills online. With bill pay, you can set up various companies or individuals as “payees” and then schedule automatic or one-time payments to be sent to them directly from your bank account. Many people use bill pay to automate payments for utilities, loans, insurance, and other monthly expenses. But it can also be used to quickly and easily pay LDS tithing online.

How to Pay LDS Tithing with Bill Pay

Paying tithing through bill pay only takes a few quick steps:

1. Log into your bank or credit union’s online banking site and access the bill pay service. If you’ve never used bill pay before, you may need to enroll and set up an account.

2. Add a new payee called “LDS Tithing – Salt Lake City” and enter the Church headquarters address as 50 E North Temple St Salt Lake City, UT 84150.

3. Select the account you want funds withdrawn from for the payment Most members use their checking account

4. Enter the payment amount for tithing Make sure to designate it as a tithing payment in the memo or note section

5. Schedule the payment to be sent immediately or on a future date.

6. Review and submit the payment.

Once submitted, the payment will be automatically sent to Church headquarters just like an online donation. Unlike with the Church’s online donation system, you don’t have real-time access to view and track bill pay tithing payments. But it is a very quick and easy way to pay tithing from home in just a few minutes.

Tips for Paying LDS Tithing with Bill Pay

• Always enter your LDS member record number or your name in the memo or note section so your donation is credited properly.

• Make sure you categorize the payment as tithing or the Church will not know how to allocate your funds.

• You can pay other offerings besides tithing using bill pay by indicating so in the memo. Common offerings made via bill pay include fast offerings, missionary fund, and general missionary fund.

• Set up scheduled recurring payments to automate your tithing each month. Just remember to adjust the amount if needed.

• Payments go directly to Church headquarters. So your local bishop will not have visibility to bill pay tithing donations.

• Print or save confirmation emails for your records. You can also request an annual donation statement.

• Payment timing varies by bank. So allow several business days for the Church to receive and process it.

• Some banks charge fees for bill pay services. Make sure you understand what fees apply to avoid surprises.

Pros of Paying LDS Tithing with Bill Pay

There are several advantages to using your bank’s bill pay service to donate tithing:

• Convenience – Paying tithing through bill pay allows you to quickly set up payments from home or on your phone without filling out tithing slips. It’s as easy as paying any other bill.

• Automation – You can schedule recurring tithing payments to go out automatically each month. This helps avoid missed donations if you forget.

• Record keeping – Your bank will store confirmation emails and payment details for easy access to your tithing payment records.

• Flexibility – In addition to tithing, you can pay fast offerings and other donations through bill pay quickly and easily.

• Easy tracking – Although you can’t view payment status on the Church’s website, you can easily track payments within your bank’s bill pay system.

Potential Drawbacks to Consider

While bill pay offers an easy online tithing payment option for Latter-day Saints, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider as well:

• No Church account integration – Bill pay tithing payments do not integrate with your Church account like online donations do. So you lose some of the tracking and record viewing benefits.

• Higher error potential – Without the guided online donation process, there is a greater chance your payment details or member number will be entered incorrectly.

• Bank fees – Some banks charge a monthly service fee for bill pay. Make sure you understand what it will cost before setting up automatic payments.

• Payment delays – Depending on your bank, payments via bill pay may take longer to reach and process than online donations.

• Less payment info – The Church will not be able to identify specific payment details like fast offering vs tithing amounts without clear memo notes.

Is Paying LDS Tithing through Bill Pay Right for You?

Paying LDS tithing through your bank’s bill pay system can be a great option for members looking for an easy, online payment method. The ability to automate scheduled payments makes it ideal for those who frequently forget to pay tithing. However, the lack of Church account integration means you lose some visibility and tracking compared to the Church’s online donation system.

Evaluate your needs and preferences to decide if the convenience of bill pay outweighs the benefits of the Church’s integrated donation platform. Many members choose to pay tithing using both bill pay and online donations depending on the circumstance. As long as your payments are accurately categorized and documented, either method fulfills your responsibility to pay a full and honest tithe.