The IRS has announced new national standards for five necessary expenses: food, housekeeping supplies, apparel and services, personal care products and services, and miscellaneous. The standards are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

The IRS Collection Financial Standards are intended for use in calculating repayment of delinquent taxes. These National Standards are effective on October 1, 2007 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. For bankruptcy purposes, the effective date for the standards will be January 1, 2008, to allow for the orderly administration of the bankruptcy laws.

Taxpayers are allowed the total National Standards amount monthly for their family size, without questioning the amounts they actually spend. If the amount claimed is more than the total allowed by the National Standards, the taxpayer must provide documentation to substantiate those expenses are necessary living expenses. Generally, the total number of persons allowed for National Standards should be the same as those allowed as exemptions on the taxpayer’s most recent year income tax return.