Hansel and Gretel, a married couple, manage apartments and they are required to live in the managers’ apartment as a condition of their employment. Instead of providing the apartment to Hansel and Gretel rent-free, the owner of the apartment building gives Hansel and Gretel a housing allowance of $600, which they use to pay rent on the managers’ apartment. Hansel and Gretel pay $600 per month in rent. If they did not live in the managers’ apartment, Hansel and Gretel could live in another apartment building where they would only pay $500 in rent. What amount, if any, must be included in Hansel and Gretel’s gross income?

Hansel and Gretel receive $600 as house rent allowance and they pay the same $600 towards the rent for their stay in the manager's apartment. If they live in a different building they would only pay $500 then they could save $100 which is the opportunity cost lost by them.

They do not have a gross income as the income and allowance are equal there is no gross income. They cannot even move on to other building as per the job agreement they have to stay at the manager's house which makes it impossible for them to earn gross income when in this job agreement.