Disclaimer: IRS Collection Financial Standards are intended for use in calculating repayment of delinquent taxes. These Standards are effective on April 21, 2025 for purposes of federal tax administration only. Expense information for use in bankruptcy calculations can be found on the website for the .
The housing and utilities standards are derived from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and are provided by state down to the county level. The standard for a particular county and family size includes both housing and utilities allowed for a taxpayer's primary place of residence. Generally, the total number of persons allowed for determining family size should be the same as those allowed as exemptions on the taxpayer's most recent year income tax return.
Housing and utilities standards include mortgage or rent, property taxes, interest, insurance, maintenance, repairs, gas, electric, water, heating oil, garbage collection, residential telephone service, cell phone service, cable television, and Internet service. The tables include five categories for one, two, three, four, and five or more persons in a household.
The taxpayer is allowed the standard amount, or the amount actually spent on housing and utilities, whichever is less. If the amount claimed is more than the total allowed by the housing and utilities standards, the taxpayer must provide documentation to substantiate those expenses are necessary living expenses.
| County | 2025 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 1 | 2025 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 2 | 2025 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 3 | 2025 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 4 | 2025 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic County | $2,163 | $2,540 | $2,677 | $2,985 | $3,033 |
| Bergen County | $3,261 | $3,830 | $4,036 | $4,500 | $4,573 |
| Burlington County | $2,414 | $2,836 | $2,988 | $3,332 | $3,385 |
| Camden County | $2,264 | $2,659 | $2,802 | $3,124 | $3,175 |
| Cape May County | $2,171 | $2,550 | $2,687 | $2,996 | $3,044 |
| Cumberland County | $1,908 | $2,241 | $2,361 | $2,633 | $2,675 |
| Essex County | $3,083 | $3,620 | $3,815 | $4,254 | $4,322 |
| Gloucester County | $2,346 | $2,756 | $2,904 | $3,238 | $3,290 |
| Hudson County | $3,049 | $3,581 | $3,773 | $4,207 | $4,275 |
| Hunterdon County | $2,910 | $3,417 | $3,601 | $4,015 | $4,080 |
| Mercer County | $2,513 | $2,951 | $3,110 | $3,468 | $3,524 |
| Middlesex County | $2,725 | $3,201 | $3,373 | $3,761 | $3,822 |
| Monmouth County | $2,894 | $3,399 | $3,582 | $3,994 | $4,058 |
| Morris County | $3,080 | $3,618 | $3,812 | $4,250 | $4,319 |
| Ocean County | $2,276 | $2,673 | $2,817 | $3,141 | $3,192 |
| Passaic County | $2,818 | $3,310 | $3,488 | $3,889 | $3,952 |
| Salem County | $2,117 | $2,486 | $2,620 | $2,921 | $2,968 |
| Somerset County | $2,969 | $3,487 | $3,674 | $4,097 | $4,163 |
| Sussex County | $2,387 | $2,803 | $2,954 | $3,294 | $3,347 |
| Union County | $2,964 | $3,481 | $3,668 | $4,090 | $4,156 |
| Warren County | $2,283 | $2,681 | $2,825 | $3,150 | $3,201 |