Question

Luke is an ordained minister. Luke’s salary from his employing church last year was $31,000. The church did not designate any of his salaries as a housing allowance. Luke spent $10,000 to rent his home last year.

How much of Luke’s salary must be included when figuring net income for self-employment tax?

$10,000

$21,000

$31,000

$41,000

Answer 1

(c) $31,000

Explanation:

As per IRS for Earnings of Clergy, A licensed, commissioned, or ordained minister who performs ministerial services as an employee may be able to exclude from gross income the fair rental value of a home provided as part of compensation (a parsonage) or a housing allowance provided as compensation if it is used to rent or otherwise provide a home. In order to be able to exclude the housing allowance from income, the minister's employing organization must officially designate the housing allowance as such before paying it to the minister.The fair rental value of a parsonage or the housing allowance is excludable only for income tax purposes, and not for Self-employment tax purpose.

In the given case, the church did not designate any of Luke's salaries as a housing allowance. Hence it is not deductible from Gross Income for Income Tax Purposes and irrespective of designation or not, it is not deductible for self-employment tax.

Thus, Full salary of Luke i.e $31,000 must be included when figuring net income for self-employment tax.