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QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYERS <br />Lodging provided or reimbursed under an accountable plan may be excludable as a travel <br />expense. You can exclude the value of lodging you furnish to an employee at the job location if <br />the following tests are met: <br />• It is furnished on your business premises. <br />• It is furnished for your convenience. <br />• The employee must accept the lodging as a condition of employment. <br />If the employee has a choice between lodging and additional wages, the value of the lodging <br />provided is taxable because it is not a condition of employment. <br />Lodging for Educational Institutions <br />Lodging is required as a condition of employment if the employer requires the employee to live <br />on the premises to be able to perform the job duties. Common examples may include park <br />rangers, firefighters or apartment managers. For the exclusion to apply, the employee must be <br />required to accept lodging. Where lodging is provided as a condition of employment, meals, if <br />provided, may qualify as excludable. <br />Special rules apply to certain campus lodging that is furnished to an employee or family <br />members of an educational institution or academic health center. <br />Qualified campus lodging is lodging furnished to the employee by an educational institution for <br />use as a home. The benefit applies to employees of educational institution and their spouses <br />and dependents. The lodging must be located on or near a campus of the educational <br />institution or an academic health center. <br />The amount of rent the employee pays for the year for qualified campus lodging is considered <br />adequate if it is at least equal to the lesser of: <br />• 5% of the appraised value of the lodging. <br />• The average of rentals paid by individuals (other than employees or students) for <br />comparable lodging held for rent by the educational institution. <br />The appraised value is the value is determined as of the close of the calendar year and must <br />be reviewed on an annual basis. <br />If the employee pays annual rent that is less than the lesser of these amounts, the difference is <br />included in wages. <br />SUMMARY: TREATMENT OF NONCASH FRINGE BENEFITS <br />The following chart provides a quick reference to general rules for common types of fringe <br />benefits. For complete information, see the appropriate sources. These benefits are discussed <br />in more in Publication 15-B. <br />14 <br />