The Parsonage Exemption

62 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2017 Last revised: 22 Feb 2018

See all articles by Adam Chodorow

Adam Chodorow

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Date Written: June 13, 2017

Abstract

The parsonage exemption allows “ministers of the gospel” to exclude the value of housing benefits from income, whether received in-kind or as a cash allowance. Critics argue that the provision violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, while supporters contend that it does not single religion out for a cognizable benefit. Alternately, supporters claim that is a permissible accommodation for religion under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause. This Article fills an important gap in the debate by offering a nuanced explanation of how the parsonage exemption and other housing provisions function within the tax code. Placing the exemption in its proper context makes clear that the parsonage exemption (1) operates as a unique subsidy for religious actors, (2) involves significantly more church-state entanglement than would its elimination; (3) violates core tax principles of horizontal and vertical equity; and (4) differs significantly from other exemptions for religious actors.

Keywords: First Amendment, Free Exercise Clause, Establishment Clause, Taxation, Religion, Separation of Church and State

JEL Classification: H20, H24, H26, K34, Z12

Suggested Citation

Chodorow, Adam, The Parsonage Exemption (June 13, 2017). 51 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 849 (2018), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2907418 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2907418

Adam Chodorow (Contact Author)

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
United States

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