1. Housing Allowance: What You Need to Know

2. The Better Way… Planning Financial Support Why is planning financial support important? To ensure church funds are spent appropriately To clarify true personal income To extend the tenure of church employees

3. Determining a “Minister for Tax Purposes” Is the person ordained, licensed or commissioned? Does the person administer ordinances? Does the person conduct religious worship? Does the person have management responsibilities in the church? Is the person considered to be a religious leader by the church?

4. Housing Allowance If You Own or Rent The maximum amount eligible for exclusion is the lesser of: The designated amount The actual eligible expenses The fair rental value of the home including furnishings plus utilities

5. Housing Allowance If You Live in a Parsonage The maximum amount you can exclude is the lesser of: The designated amount The actual eligible expenses

6. Housing Allowance For eligible ministers (IRS Code Section 107) Designated in advance by the church Non-taxable for federal income taxes only, subject to limits Social Security taxes (SECA) payable on the fair rental value of a parsonage and on the housing allowance

7. Housing Allowance Actual Eligible Expenses Mortgage or rent and Home Owers Assoc. Utilities Property taxes Insurance Furnishings Repairs and improvements

8. How to Designate a Housing Allowance Minister provides church an estimate of anticipated housing expenses (form on our website) Church officially designates and documents housing allowance in advance Action recorded in church minutes and minister is notified

9. How to Designate a Housing Allowance Housing allowance may be changed prospectively during the year You must change your HA before you pay for repair bill Minister is responsible for documenting expenses

10. Tax Issues for the Minister When you are doing your resolutions for your housing allowance, add to it “until changed.” Keeps your housing allowance in effect until you change it again. You lose your housing allowance if your form says for 2010 and you go into 2011 without it being renewed. Keep good records. No proof, no write off

11. Step 10: W-2 Preparation Ministerial Form HSA

12. Step 10: W-2 Preparation Non-ministerial Form

13. Tax Issues for the Minister Mortgage interest and property taxes can be deducted twice – once as housing allowance and then as Schedule A itemized deductions

14. ® Rod Wiltrout GuideStone Representative rwiltrout@csbc.com (559) 256-0858 direct line (559) 287-7840 cell phone