Disclaimer: IRS Collection Financial Standards are intended for use in calculating repayment of delinquent taxes. These Standards are effective on April 22, 2024 for purposes of federal tax administration only. Expense information for use in bankruptcy calculations can be found on the website for the U.S. Trustee Program. 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. Maximum Monthly Allowance County 2024 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 1 2024 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 2 2024 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 3 2024 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 4 2024 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 5 Androscoggin County $1,652 $1,940 $2,044 $2,279 $2,316 Aroostook County $1,305 $1,533 $1,615 $1,801 $1,830 Cumberland County $2,089 $2,453 $2,585 $2,882 $2,929 Franklin County $1,405 $1,650 $1,739 $1,939 $1,970 Hancock County $1,619 $1,902 $2,004 $2,234 $2,271 Kennebec County $1,550 $1,820 $1,918 $2,139 $2,173 Knox County $1,738 $2,041 $2,151 $2,398 $2,437 Lincoln County $1,644 $1,931 $2,035 $2,269 $2,306 Oxford County $1,458 $1,712 $1,804 $2,011 $2,044 Penobscot County $1,575 $1,850 $1,949 $2,173 $2,208 Piscataquis County $1,405 $1,650 $1,739 $1,939 $1,970 Sagadahoc County $1,810 $2,126 $2,240 $2,498 $2,538 Somerset County $1,370 $1,609 $1,695 $1,890 $1,920 Waldo County $1,553 $1,824 $1,922 $2,143 $2,178 Washington County $1,374 $1,614 $1,701 $1,897 $1,927 York County $1,941 $2,279 $2,402 $2,678 $2,721 Related topic Local standards: Housing and utilities
