[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 12]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.1402(e)-3A]

[Page 39-41]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.1402(e)-3A  Time limitation for filing application for exemption.

    (a) General rule. (1) Any individual referred to in paragraph (a) of 
Sec. 1.1402(e)-2A who desires an exemption from the tax on self-
employment income with respect to service performed by him in his 
capacity as a minister or member of a religious order or as a Christian 
Science practitioner must file the application for exemption (Form 4361) 
prescribed by Sec. 1.1402(e)-2A on or before whichever of the following 
dates is later:
    (i) The due date of the income tax return (see section 6072), 
including any extension thereof (see section 6081), for his second 
taxable year ending after 1967, or
    (ii) The due date of the income tax return, including any extension 
thereof, for his second taxable year beginning after 1953 for which he 
has net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more, any part of 
which:
    (a) In the case of a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed 
minister of a church, consists of remuneration for service performed in 
the exercise of his ministry,
    (b) In the case of a member of a religious order who has not taken a 
vow of poverty as a member of such order, consists of remuneration for 
service performed in the exercise of duties required by such order, or
    (c) In the case of a Christian Science practitioner, consists of 
remuneration for service performed in the exercise of his profession as 
a Christian Science practitioner.

See paragraph (c) of this section for provisions relating to the 
computation of net earnings from self-employment.
    (2) If a minister, a member of a religious order, or a Christian 
Science practitioner derives gross income in a taxable year both from 
service performed in such capacity and from the conduct of another trade 
or business, and the deductions allowed by Chapter 1 of the Internal 
Revenue Code which are attributable to the gross income derived from 
service performed in such capacity equal or exceed the gross income 
derived from service performed in such capacity, no part of the net 
earnings from self-employment (computed as prescribed in paragraph (c) 
of this section) for the taxable year shall be considered as derived 
from service performed in such capacity.
    (3) The application of the rules set forth in subparagraphs (1) and 
(2) of

[[Page 40]]

this paragraph may be illustrated by the following examples:

    Example (1). M, who makes his income tax returns on a calendar year 
basis, was ordained as a minister in January 1960. During each of two or 
more taxable years ending before 1968 M has net earnings from self-
employment in excess of $400 some part of which is from service 
performed in the exercise of his ministry. M has not filed an effective 
waiver certificate on Form 2031 (see paragraph (a)(3) of Sec. 
1.1402(e)-2A). If M desires an exemption from the tax on self-employment 
income with respect to service performed in the exercise of his 
ministry, he must file an application for exemption on or before the due 
date of his income tax return for 1969 (his second taxable year ending 
after 1967), or any extension thereof.
    Example (2). M, who makes his income tax returns on a calendar year 
basis, was ordained as a minister in January 1966. M has net earnings of 
$350 for the taxable year 1966 and has net earnings in excess of $400 
for each of his taxable years 1967 and 1968 (some part or all of which 
is derived from service performed in the exercise of his ministry). M 
has not filed an effective waiver certificate on Form 2031 (see 
paragraph (a)(3) of Sec. 1.1402(e)-2A). If M desires an exemption from 
the tax on self-employment income with respect to service performed in 
the exercise of his ministry, he must file an application for exemption 
on or before the due date of his income tax return for 1969 (his second 
taxable year ending after 1967), or any extension thereof.
    Example (3). Assume the same facts as in example (2) except that M 
has net earnings in excess of $400 for each of his taxable years 1967 
and 1969 (but less than $400 in 1968). The application for exemption 
must be filed on or before the due date of his income tax return for 
1969, or any extension thereof.
    Example (4). M was ordained as a minister in May 1973. During each 
of the taxable years 1973 and 1975, M, who makes his income tax returns 
on a calendar year basis, derives net earnings in excess of $400 from 
his activities as a minister. M has net earnings of $350 for the taxable 
year 1974, $200 of which is derived from service performed by him in the 
exercise of his ministry. If M desires an exemption from the tax on 
self-employment income with respect to service performed in the exercise 
of his ministry, he must file an application for exemption on or before 
the due date of his income tax return for 1975, or any extension 
thereof.
    Example (5). M, who was ordained a minister in January 1973, is 
employed as a toolmaker by the XYZ Corporation for the taxable years 
1973 and 1974 and also engages in activities as a minister on weekends. 
M makes his income tax returns on the basis of a calendar year. During 
each of the taxable years 1973 and 1974 M receives wages of $14,000 from 
the XYZ Corporation and derives net earnings of $400 from his activities 
as a minister. If M desires an exemption from the tax on self-employment 
income with respect to service performed in the exercise of his 
ministry, he must file an application for exemption on or before the due 
date of his income tax return for 1974, or any extension thereof. It 
should be noted that although by reason of section 1402(b)(1) (G) and 
(H) no part of the $400 represents ``self-employment income'', 
nevertheless the entire $400 constitutes ``net earnings from self-
employment'' for purposes of fulfilling the requirements of section 
1402(e)(2).
    Example (6). M, who files his income tax returns on a calendar year 
basis, was ordained as a minister in March 1973. During 1973 he receives 
$410 for service performed in the exercise of his ministry. In addition 
to his ministerial services, M is engaged during the year 1973 in a 
mercantile venture from which he derives net earnings from self-
employment in the amount of $4,000. The expenses incurred by him in 
connection with his ministerial services during 1973 and which are 
allowable deductions under Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code amount 
to $410. During 1974 and 1975, M has net earnings from self-employment 
in amounts of $4,600 and $4,800, respectively, and some part of each of 
these amounts is from the exercise of his ministry. The deductions 
allowed in each of the years 1974 and 1975 by Chapter 1 which are 
attributable to the gross income derived by M from the exercise of his 
ministry in each of such years, respectively, do not equal or exceed 
such gross income in such year. If M desires an exemption from the tax 
on self-employment income with respect to service performed in the 
exercise of his ministry, he must file an application for exemption on 
or before the due date of his income tax return for 1975, or an 
extension thereof.

    (b) Effect of death. The right of an individual to file an 
application for exemption shall cease upon his death. Thus, the 
surviving spouse, administrator, or executor of a decedent shall not be 
permitted to file an application for exemption for such decedent.
    (c) Computation of net earnings--(1) Taxable years ending before 
1968. For purposes of this section net earnings from self-employment for 
taxable years ending before 1968 shall be determined without regard to 
the fact that, without an election under section 1402(e) (as in effect 
prior to amendment by section 115(b)(2) of the Social Security 
Amendments of 1967, see Sec. 1.1402(e)-1A), the performance of services 
by a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed

[[Page 41]]

minister of a church in the exercise of his ministry, or by a member of 
a religious order in the exercise of duties required by such order, or 
the performance of service by an individual in the exercise of his 
profession as a Christian Science practitioner, does not constitute a 
trade or business for purposes of the tax on self-employment income.
    (2) Taxable years ending after 1967. For purposes of this section 
and Sec. 1.1402(e)-4A net earnings from self-employment for taxable 
years ending after 1967 shall be determined without regard to section 
1402(c) (4) and (5). See Sec. 1.1402(c)-3(e)(2) and Sec. 1.1402(c)-5 
relating to ministers and members of religious orders, and paragraphs 
(a)(3)(ii) and (b) of Sec. 1.1402(c)-6 relating to Christian Science 
practitioners.

[T.D. 7333, 39 FR 44449, Dec. 24, 1974]