H.R. 6068House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Clergy Act

Introduced October 26, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 12:34 PM UTC

The Clergy Act lets ordained ministers, members of religious orders, and Christian Science practitioners who have claimed an exemption from Social Security coverage choose to opt back into the system. It creates a specific window for filing a revocation application and may require payment of back taxes for the year they re‑enter. The law also directs the IRS to inform eligible clergy about this option and report the plan to Congress.

Key Provisions

  • Clergy who have received the exemption under the Internal Revenue Code may revoke it by filing an application by the due date of their federal income‑tax return for the second taxable year beginning after December 31, 2025.
  • The revocation can be made effective for either the first or second taxable year after December 31, 2025, and once revoked the individual cannot later re‑apply for the exemption.
  • If the revocation is filed after the tax‑return deadline, the applicant must pay the full amount of Social Security taxes that would have been owed on self‑employment earnings for that year.
  • The provisions apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and to Social Security benefits for months in or after the calendar year the revocation becomes effective.
  • Within 90 days of enactment, the IRS, in consultation with the Social Security Administration, must develop and submit a plan to inform eligible clergy of their ability to revoke the exemption.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 232.

December 1, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 26, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

October 26, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

November 2, 2023

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.

November 2, 2023

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-288.

December 1, 2023

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 232.

December 1, 2023

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued December 1, 2023

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Union Calendar No. 232

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 6068

[Report No. 118–288]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 26, 2023

Mr. McCarthy (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Arrington, Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Estes, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. LaHood, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Smucker, Mrs. Steel, and Mr. Wenstrup) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

December 1, 2023

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 26, 2023


A BILL

To allow a period in which members of the clergy may revoke their exemption from Social Security coverage, and for other purposes.


1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clergy Act.

2.

Revocation by members of the clergy of exemption from social security coverage

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding section 1402(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any exemption which has been received under section 1402(e)(1) of such Code by a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church, a member of a religious order, or a Christian Science practitioner, and which is effective for the taxable year in which this Act is enacted, may be revoked by filing an application therefor (in such form and manner, and with such official, as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue), if such application is filed no later than the due date of the Federal income tax return (including any extension thereof) for the applicant’s second taxable year beginning after December 31, 2025. Any such revocation shall be effective (for purposes of chapter 2 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.)), as specified in the application, either with respect to the applicant’s first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2025, or with respect to the applicant’s second taxable year beginning after such date, and for all succeeding taxable years; and the applicant for any such revocation may not thereafter again file an application for an exemption under such section 1402(e)(1). If the application is filed after the due date of the applicant’s Federal income tax return for a taxable year and is effective with respect to that taxable year, it shall include or be accompanied by payment in full of an amount equal to the total of the taxes that would have been imposed by section 1401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to all of the applicant’s income derived in that taxable year which would have constituted net earnings from self-employment for purposes of chapter 2 of such Code (notwithstanding paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 1402(c)) except for the exemption under section 1402(e)(1) of such Code.

(b)

Effective date

Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to service performed (to the extent specified in such subsection) in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and with respect to monthly insurance benefits payable under title II of the Social Security Act on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any individual for months in or after the calendar year in which such individual’s application for revocation (as described in such subsection) is effective (and lump-sum death payments payable under such title on the basis of such wages and self-employment income in the case of deaths occurring in or after such calendar year).

3.

Report to Congress

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall develop and submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a plan to inform duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed ministers of a church, members of a religious order, and Christian Science practitioners of their eligibility to revoke any prior election of exemption from Social Security participation.

December 1, 2023

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed