Clergy Tax Tools

Letter generator

Housing allowance request letter

Your church, not you, must officially designate the allowance, in advance. This builds a letter you can send to your board, session, or council asking them to do it. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Your details

For example: Session, Elders, Church Council, Personnel Committee.
Filled from your expense list if you came from there.

Your letter

Download .txt

What happens next

  1. The church’s governing body adopts a resolution designating the amount, before the pay period it covers, and records it in the minutes.
  2. The designation should be noted in your employment terms or payroll records.
  3. Keep receipts through the year. You can exclude only the least of the designated amount, your actual expenses, and fair rental value plus utilities.
This letter is a template, not legal or tax advice. Wording and procedures vary by denomination and church bylaws. The legal basis is Internal Revenue Code section 107(2), explained in IRS Publication 517.