Jerry Funston, EA · Galena, Ohio

The other guys handle
your filing.
Jerry handles
your future.

Tax strategy, bookkeeping, and IRS representation for W-2 professionals, small business owners, and clergy — from an Enrolled Agent who also happens to be a pastor.

★★★★★ Google Review
"Jerry and Meg are simply the best. Strategic, innovative and compassionate — we've saved money and time, and better understand our taxes. So happy we found Common Tax."
Kristi Miller Nunn Business owner · Central Ohio
Enrolled Agent (EA) — IRS Certified
30+ Years in Ministry
Individuals, Businesses & Clergy
Galena, OH · Serving Nationally
The Story Behind the Practice

A pastor who became a tax pro.
Not the other way around.

At 17, I job-shadowed an accountant. I walked out and thought, absolutely not. Taxes felt cold, mechanical, disconnected from people — the opposite of everything I wanted to do with my life.

So I became a pastor instead. Thirty years of walking alongside people in their hardest moments: grief, crisis, confusion, and yes — money stress. I watched financial anxiety quietly destroy marriages, derail ministries, and steal sleep from good people.

"I'm not pastoring numbers. I'm pastoring people who happen to have a tax problem."

Then came COVID. A bivocational season led me through the big-box tax shops — the other guys first, then a job at H&R Block, then an EA exam I passed — and finally to Common Tax, the practice I wish had existed when I needed it most.

Read the Full Story
Jerry Funston, pastor and Enrolled Agent, at Common Tax & Bookkeeping
Enrolled Agent The highest credential the IRS issues. Unlimited practice rights — any taxpayer, any issue, any IRS office.
30+ Years in Ministry I understand clergy tax law from the inside — housing allowance, dual status, SE tax, and the financial realities of bivocational life.
Integrity, Compassion, Wisdom Not a tagline — the actual values that have governed every client relationship since day one.
QuickBooks ProAdvisor Full-service bookkeeping, clean books, and financial clarity for small business owners who'd rather run their business.
Who This Is For

Three kinds of people
find their way here.

Different situations. Same need: someone who handles the tax side while you focus on what you're actually good at.

01

W-2 Professionals

You have one job, maybe a side income, and you owe more than you expect every April. Nobody ever showed you how the withholding math works — or what deductions you're leaving on the table.

Get the free guide
02

Small Business Owners

You're running something real — an LLC, an S-Corp, a side hustle that grew up. The books feel behind, the tax liability feels uncertain, and you need a pro who's in your corner year-round.

Should you be an S-Corp?
03

Clergy & Ministers

Dual tax status. Housing allowance. Self-employment tax on your ministry income. The IRS wrote a special rulebook for you — most tax software doesn't read it. I do.

Get the clergy guide
How It Works

Simple. Intentional. Yours.

No surprise bills, no chasing documents, no wondering if you're being served or processed.

1

Start with a Conversation

A free 15-minute call to understand where you are, what you need, and whether we're a good fit.

2

Choose Your Path

One-time review, entry call, or an ongoing subscription tier matched to your situation.

3

Get to Work

Secure document portal, clear communication, and real tax strategy — not just filing.

4

Stay Ahead

Ongoing clients get quarterly check-ins, planning calls, and a pro watching the horizon.

What Clients Say

Real people. Real results.

★★★★★ 5.0 on Google
Jerry Funston and his wife Meg
★★★★★
"Jerry and Meg are simply the best. Strategic, innovative and compassionate — we've saved money and time, and better understand our taxes. So happy we found Common Tax."
Kristi Miller Nunn Business owner · Income tax & tax planning
★★★★★
"Jerry was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive throughout the entire process. He made everything easy to understand and took the stress out of handling our taxes."
Larry McGrath Income tax return filing
★★★★★
"Jerry and Common have been great to work with — knowledgeable at all aspects of tax strategy, and a trusted source for our family moving forward."
Daniel Nunn Tax strategy · Family financial planning
★★★★★
"Jerry helped with all of my tax preparation questions and answered each one thoroughly and clearly. Reliable, responsive, and a pleasure to work with."
Kim Wiley Tax planning
Free Resources

Know more before you owe more.

Three guides. One for each of the people we serve. Free. No strings — just helpful.

For Clergy

5 Tax Mistakes Pastors Make (and How to Fix Them)

Housing allowance errors. Wrong SE tax treatment. Missed deductions. If you're bivocational, at least two of these probably apply to you right now.

Download Free
For Solopreneurs

Should I Be an S-Corp? A Simple Checklist

The answer isn't always yes — but it's often yes and nobody told you. Score your situation in 10 minutes and know where you stand.

Download Free
For W-2 Earners

Why Do I Always Owe? A Tax Withholding Guide

Your employer is guessing. Your W-4 hasn't been updated in years. This guide explains exactly what's happening and how to fix it before next April.

Download Free
Subscription Tiers

Find your tier.

Read each one. One of them will sound exactly like you. That's the point.

In ministry? Common Tax offers a special Ministry Rate for pastors, ministry staff, and missionaries — $35/mo founder rate. See the Ministry Rate →
The Foundation
"You're a W-2 household with no business, no rental, no surprises — you just want your return done right."
Founding Member
$40/mo
$65/mo standard rate
Personal return · Year-end AGI review · IRS notice handling
See What's Included
The Compliance Partner
"You're running a real business. Monthly books and a quarterly conversation that turns the numbers into decisions."
Founding Member
$175/mo
$225/mo standard rate
Monthly bookkeeping · Quarterly advisory · Tax planning
See What's Included
The Growth Partner
"You're running an entity, managing payroll, and need an advisor who runs the numbers before you make the call."
Founding Member
$425/mo
$525/mo standard rate
Entity return · S-Corp strategy · Monthly advisory
See What's Included
Compare All Tiers

Not sure where to start?
That's what the free call is for.

15 minutes. No sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about where you are and whether we're the right fit.

Book Your Free 15-Min Call