Disclaimer: IRS Collection Financial Standards are intended for use in calculating repayment of delinquent taxes. These Standards are effective on June 29, 2026, 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
County2026 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 12026 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 22026 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 32026 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 42026 Published ALE Housing Expense for a Family of 5
Adams County$1,536$1,804$1,901$2,120$2,154
Barnes County$1,497$1,758$1,853$2,066$2,099
Benson County$1,728$2,030$2,139$2,385$2,423
Billings County$2,054$2,412$2,542$2,834$2,880
Bottineau County$1,563$1,835$1,934$2,156$2,191
Bowman County$1,500$1,762$1,857$2,071$2,104
Burke County$1,484$1,743$1,837$2,048$2,081
Burleigh County$1,961$2,303$2,427$2,706$2,750
Cass County$1,938$2,276$2,398$2,674$2,717
Cavalier County$1,467$1,722$1,815$2,024$2,056
Dickey County$1,529$1,796$1,892$2,110$2,144
Divide County$1,612$1,893$1,995$2,224$2,260
Dunn County$1,687$1,982$2,088$2,328$2,366
Eddy County$1,318$1,548$1,631$1,819$1,848
Emmons County$1,482$1,740$1,834$2,045$2,078
Foster County$1,371$1,610$1,697$1,892$1,923
Golden Valley County$1,501$1,763$1,858$2,072$2,105
Grand Forks County$1,836$2,156$2,272$2,533$2,574
Grant County$1,384$1,626$1,713$1,910$1,941
Griggs County$1,338$1,572$1,656$1,846$1,876
Hettinger County$1,396$1,640$1,728$1,927$1,958
Kidder County$1,442$1,694$1,785$1,990$2,022
LaMoure County$1,483$1,742$1,836$2,047$2,080
Logan County$1,366$1,605$1,691$1,885$1,916
McHenry County$1,567$1,840$1,939$2,162$2,197
McIntosh County$1,297$1,523$1,605$1,790$1,818
McKenzie County$2,298$2,699$2,844$3,171$3,222
McLean County$1,718$2,018$2,126$2,370$2,409
Mercer County$1,783$2,094$2,207$2,461$2,501
Morton County$1,858$2,183$2,300$2,565$2,606
Mountrail County$1,795$2,109$2,222$2,478$2,518
Nelson County$1,504$1,767$1,862$2,076$2,110
Oliver County$1,863$2,188$2,306$2,571$2,613
Pembina County$1,372$1,611$1,698$1,893$1,924
Pierce County$1,420$1,667$1,757$1,959$1,991
Ramsey County$1,656$1,945$2,049$2,285$2,322
Ransom County$1,637$1,923$2,026$2,259$2,295
Renville County$1,694$1,989$2,096$2,337$2,375
Richland County$1,683$1,977$2,083$2,323$2,360
Rolette County$1,476$1,734$1,827$2,037$2,070
Sargent County$1,559$1,832$1,930$2,152$2,187
Sheridan County$1,395$1,639$1,727$1,926$1,957
Sioux County$1,458$1,712$1,804$2,011$2,044
Slope County$2,255$2,649$2,791$3,112$3,162
Stark County$1,946$2,285$2,408$2,685$2,728
Steele County$1,605$1,886$1,987$2,216$2,251
Stutsman County$1,704$2,001$2,109$2,352$2,389
Towner County$1,447$1,700$1,791$1,997$2,029
Traill County$1,695$1,991$2,098$2,339$2,377
Walsh County$1,391$1,633$1,721$1,919$1,950
Ward County$1,960$2,302$2,426$2,705$2,749
Wells County$1,525$1,791$1,887$2,104$2,138
Williams County$2,069$2,430$2,561$2,856$2,902