Is a housing allowance counted as income for SECA taxes?

Yes. A housing allowance may be excluded from income for federal income tax purposes, but not for SECA tax purposes.

Example: Reverend Smith's designated housing allowance is 40% ($16,000) of his $40,000 salary. Assuming he can exclude the full amount designated by the church, he will not report the $16,000 as income for federal income tax purposes. But he will have to count the $16,000 as income for purposes of SECA taxes.

For more information, visit the Ministers' Tax Guide

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