by Sean Hollen
(Hoquiam, WA)
My son is going off to college and I am paying for his rent. Can I use part of my housing allowance to pay for it?
2Comments
Qualified Housing Allowance Expenses
VVickey
Let me clarify something here. You are free to use your housing allowance on anything you please...it’s your money; however, when it comes to actually claiming your housing allowance exclusion from income tax...that is where there are only certain housing expenses that are eligible to claim.
See this page for some example of eligible housing allowance expenses.
Also remember when it comes to claiming the actual housing allowance exclusion you MUST use the lesser of these three amounts:
•The amount actually spent on eligible housing expenses.
•The fair market rental value plus furnishings and utilities.
•The amount officially designated in advance as housing allowance.
So when figuring and claiming your housing allowance exclusion, you can only use expenses that were required to maintain the qualifying minister’s home.
Your son’s college rent would not be an eligible expense.
See this page for some example of eligible housing allowance expenses.
Also remember when it comes to claiming the actual housing allowance exclusion you MUST use the lesser of these three amounts:
•The amount actually spent on eligible housing expenses.
•The fair market rental value plus furnishings and utilities.
•The amount officially designated in advance as housing allowance.
So when figuring and claiming your housing allowance exclusion, you can only use expenses that were required to maintain the qualifying minister’s home.
Your son’s college rent would not be an eligible expense.
Car insurance?
AAnonymous in NC
No, only house insurance and house expenses for the one house you are living in as qualifies clergy.