Income Calculations

Income Calculations

SSA Announces 1.3 Percent COLA Increase

October 29, 2020    

The Social Security Administration recently announced that the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 1.3 percent in 2021. The 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security...

Four Dos & Don'ts for Calculating Income from 'Gig Economy' Jobs

June 11, 2020    

As U.S. unemployment reaches historic levels, you may see more applicants making ends meet with income from online “gig” platforms such as Instacart, Postmates, or Grubhub. These particular grocery and food delivery services have reported record demand during the pandemic and have...

CARES Act Changes Required Minimum Distribution Rules for 2020

April 15, 2020    

On March 27, the president signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) as part of the $2 trillion stimulus package intended to stabilize the economy during the devastating coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act provides for a temporary waiver of required...

HUD Issues 2020 Income Limits for HUD and Tax Credit Programs

April 15, 2020    

HUD recently announced the 2020 income limits for the Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSP) housing programs effective April 1, 2020. This includes sites with low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bond financing. HUD has also issued the income limits for the 2020 MTSP Income Averaging...

Use Same HUD Passbook Savings Rate Despite Fed Rate Cut

March 11, 2020    

On March 3, the Federal Reserve cut its federal funds rate by half a percentage point. It was the first rate cut in 2020 and came in response to the threat posed to the economy by the coronavirus.

When the Fed cuts interest rates, consumers usually earn less interest on their savings....

SSA Announces 2020 COLA Increase of 1.6 Percent

October 30, 2019    

On Oct. 10, the Social Security Administration announced that the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 1.6 percent in 2020. The 1.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 63 million Social Security...

How to Handle Rental Property When Calculating Household Income

January 30, 2019    

Determining annual income is an important step in determining an applicant’s eligibility for the LIHTC program. To become income eligible, an applicant’s household gross annual income must be equal to or less than the income limit applicable to your site.

Follow Five Dos & Don'ts When Calculating Income of Student Household Members

September 28, 2017    

If you have part-time or full-time students living at your tax credit site, it’s important to know how to calculate their income properly. However, be mindful that all student eligibility requirements are met for your LIHTC site before you consider student income in a household. In other...

Four Tips for Estimating Freelance Income Correctly

July 31, 2017    

With the rise of gig economy companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Instacart, you may have noticed more applicants earning money from these companies as independent freelancing contractors. When you’re calculating household income, a “freelancer” presents special challenges....

Avoid Mistakes that Could Trigger Resident Exceeding Income Limits

January 31, 2017    

When recertifying households, you, as the site tax credit manager, probably know that households that go over-income don’t cease to qualify as tax credit units. To continue receiving tax credits on a unit whose household goes over-income, you must follow the available unit rule. The rule...

How to Count Absent Members When Calculating Household Size and Income

June 30, 2016    

A household can consist of one or more persons. A household may report to you that one of its members will be absent from the unit. For instance, an applicant may report that she has a daughter who’s away at school. Or an applicant may report that his wife recently had a stroke and will be...

How to Handle Assets Disposed of for Less than Fair Market Value

August 31, 2015    

During the certification or recertification process, residents are required to report all income from all sources to the owner or manager during certification or recertification. One component of annual income is any income the household’s assets generate. And sometimes, households may...