Is a housing allowance considered earnings for purposes of figuring a wage garnishment on a pastor?

We have a pastor that has been presented with a wage garnishment due to a medical debt. I am calculating the amount of garnishment and I am not finding an answer as to whether a housing allowance is subject to the garnishment calculation.

Comments for Is a housing allowance considered earnings for purposes of figuring a wage garnishment on a pastor?

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 04, 2016
 Is housing allowance considered earnings when figuring a wage garnishment?
by: Lewis in NC

This is a legal question, and an attorney I am not. I am just guessing that it would not be considered earnings for this purpose (whether the housing allowance is within a pastor's salary or in addition to the salary), because the housing allowance is mandated to be used for the pastor's housing by the government to be considered for the income tax exclusion on it in the first place. I would call the government agency issuing the wage garnishment order or the IRS to get conclusive facts before making this decision.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Housing Allowance.



Need a Consultation, help setting up an effective Accounting System, or someone to do your monthly bookkeeping and/or payroll?

Recommended Resource!

Online classes/courses on how to use QuickBooks Desktop and QB Online for a church! 

Click here for more details!

Use coupon code "FCA" for 10% discount!