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  • Home
    • Taxes
    • Housing Allowance for Ministers
  • What is the ministers' housing allowance?

    The ministers' housing allowance is a very important tax benefit available to min

  • Who is eligible for the ministers' housing allowance?

    Only Ministers for Tax Purposes are eligible for a housing allowance on their min

  • What is the church's responsibility concerning the housing allowance?

    Churches should designate a housing allowance in writing before the beginning of

  • What are ministers' responsibilities concerning the housing allowance?

    As taxpayers, ministers must determine if they are eligible for a housing allowan

  • What housing expenses are eligible to be excluded from income?

    Eligible expenses include mortgage payments (principal and interest); rent paymen

  • What housing expenses are not eligible to be excluded from income?

    Cleaning services, food and domestic help are not eligible to be excluded from in

  • How much can ministers who own their homes exclude as a housing allowance from income for federal income tax purposes?

    Ministers who own their homes can exclude the lowest of the following three amoun

  • How much can ministers who rent their homes exclude from income for federal income tax purposes?

    Ministers who rent their homes can exclude the lower of these two amounts: The am

  • Can ministers who live rent-free in a parsonage owned by a church have a housing allowance?

    Churches can designate a housing allowance for a minister who lives in a parsonag

  • Is a housing allowance counted as income for SECA taxes?

    Yes. A housing allowance may be excluded from income for federal income tax purpo

  • Are bivocational ministers eligible for a housing allowance?

    Churches may designate a housing allowance for bivocational ministers who are Min

  • Can ministers deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes on their homes if they have a housing allowance?

    Yes. Ministers who itemize deductions and have a housing allowance may deduct mor

  • Are down payments on homes eligible for housing allowance?

    A down payment on a home may be excluded from income as a housing allowance, assu

  • Are ministers who pay off their mortgages eligible for a housing allowance?

    Ministers who pay off their mortgages may have a housing allowance for other elig

  • When can churches designate a housing allowance?

    Churches can designate a housing allowance only prospectively, not retroactively.

  • What happens if a church forgets to designate a housing allowance?

    A minister cannot exclude income as a housing allowance unless the church designa

  • What can a church do to ensure that a minister always has some amount designated as a housing allowance?

    Churches should consider designating a housing allowance "for the current year an

  • Is there a limit on the amount of a minister's salary that a church can designate as a housing allowance?

    There is no limit on the amount of a minister's salary that a church can designat

  • What if the church designates more than the minister can claim as a housing allowance?

    If the church designates more than the minister can claim as a housing allowance,

  • Should a church report a housing allowance on a minister's Form W-2?

    The housing allowance does not need to be reported on a Form W-2, although some c

  • Can retired ministers receive some or all of their retirement income from GuideStone as a housing allowance?

    Yes. Revenue Ruling 75-22 allows denominational pension boards such as GuideStone

  • How do I update my housing allowance designation on my retirement income?

    If you are a minister for tax purposes, you will request GuideStone to designate

  • Do retired ministers have to pay SECA taxes on their retirement income?

    Generally, retired ministers do not pay SECA tax on their retirement income. Elig

  • Can surviving spouses of retired ministers receive some or all of their benefits from GuideStone as a housing allowance?

    Ministers are eligible for housing allowance with respect to ministerial services

  • Where can I find GuideStone's Ministers' Tax Guide?

    For more information about who is a minister for tax purposes, see our annual Min

  • How do I withdraw a housing allowance from my retirement account?

    GuideStone makes the process very simple for ministers when withdrawing funds for

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