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Housing Allowance Worksheet and Approval Tool

Minister's Housing Allowance Worksheet
Minister's Housing Allowance Worksheet
IRC §107 — Eligible Exclusion Determination
Part I

Ministerial qualification

All criteria must be confirmed for §107 eligibility — designation must exist before compensation is paid

✗  Qualification criteria not yet confirmed
Part II

Test 1 — Designated allowance

Amount formally designated by the church governing body for the tax year

Designated housing allowance per board resolution Must be adopted before compensation is paid; document in writing
$
Test 1 amount $0
Part III

Test 2 — Actual housing expenses

Amounts actually paid during the tax year for qualifying housing costs

Rent or mortgage principal & interestFull annual payment; includes both P&I if owner-occupied
$
Property taxesIf owner-occupied
$
Homeowner's or renter's insurance
$
Utilities — electric, gas, water, trashCable and internet are not eligible
$
Furniture & furnishings purchased during the year
$
Repairs & maintenanceActual costs paid; not depreciation
$
Lawn, landscaping & snow removal
$
HOA dues
$
Other qualifying housing expenses
$
Test 2 total actual expenses $0
Part IV

Test 3 — Fair rental value

FRV of home as furnished, plus utilities (Knetchel standard) — document comparable rental sources

Annual fair rental value — furnishedComparable furnished rentals in the area; retain documentation (Zillow, local property mgmt quotes, etc.)
$
Annual utilities (if not already included in FRV estimate above)
$
Test 3 fair rental value (furnished + utilities) $0
Part V

Compensation limit

Housing allowance cannot exceed total compensation received for ministerial services

Total annual compensation from the churchW-2 Box 1 plus the housing allowance designated; includes all forms of ministerial pay
$
Compensation ceiling Not entered
Part VI

Three-test comparison & eligible exclusion

Eligible §107 exclusion is the lesser of all three tests, capped at total compensation

Test 1
Designated
$0
Test 2
Actual expenses
$0
Test 3
Fair rental value
$0
Lesser of three tests $0
Total compensation ceiling Not entered
Excess designated (not excludable — includable as wages) $0
Eligible §107 housing allowance exclusion
$0
ℹ️  The housing allowance exclusion applies to federal income tax only. The excluded amount remains subject to self-employment (SECA) tax on Schedule SE — ministers are treated as self-employed for FICA/SECA purposes regardless of W-2 status.
Attestation

Minister certification

To be completed and signed before returning to your preparer

I certify that the amounts entered on this worksheet are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that the housing allowance exclusion is limited to the lesser of the designated amount, actual housing expenses paid, and the fair rental value of the home furnished including utilities. I retain documentation supporting these figures.

Board Approval

Governing board resolution

Must be adopted prior to the compensation period — document in official minutes

We, the undersigned authorized officers of the above-named church or organization, hereby certify that the governing board duly adopted a resolution designating a housing allowance in the amount shown on this worksheet for the tax year indicated, prior to the payment of any compensation to which the allowance applies. This designation is recorded in the official minutes of the board.

⚠️  A retroactive designation provides no §107 exclusion for periods already paid. The board resolution date must precede the compensation it covers. Retain signed minutes in the church's permanent records.