So... why shouldn't houses of worship pay taxes?

[Ice_Dragon]

It seems that since the 80s, and perhaps longer, religion has become quite intertwined with politics. Why shouldn't houses of worship pay taxes if everyone has to pay taxes?

 

[Brainonska511]

I can see some of the reasons for it, but on the other hand, what would you do if they don't pay taxes? Seize their property? I see that blowing over well...

 

[EagleKeeper]

One would have to tax all houses of worship equally.

How would the tax then be determined.
Property Value - very subjective - difficult to run comparisons
Membership
Physical buildings/location - different per religion group

you have states, local municipalities and the Feds.
IF Church A gets a different taxing bill than Church B; it could be considered to be the government dictating a religious preference.


Big can of worms

 

[child of wonder]

Couldn't agree more. Churches and religious institutions are no different than any other business.

They advertise to attract new customers, they offer products (place to worship, higher odds of getting to heaven, spiritual uplifting, daycare services during service, etc.), and ask for money in exchange for these services. The extra money, or profit, they obtain is used to expand the business.

However, since all taxes levied on businesses are simply passed on to the consumer, the next question is "should any business be taxed at all?"

 

[JulesMaximus]

It seems that since the 80s, and perhaps longer, religion has become quite intertwined with politics. Why shouldn't houses of worship pay taxes if everyone has to pay taxes?

This is EXACTLY why they should pay taxes IMO.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Couldn't agree more. Churches and religious institutions are no different than any other business.

They advertise to attract new customers, they offer products (place to worship, higher odds of getting to heaven, spiritual uplifting, daycare services during service, etc.), and ask for money in exchange for these services. The extra money, or profit, they obtain is used to expand the business.

However, since all taxes levied on businesses are simply passed on to the consumer, the next question is "should any business be taxed at all?"

I like this concept. I can go to a business and take anything I want and not pay for it.

 

[Incorruptible]

Gotta love the anti-Christian bigotry behind this idea. They shouldn't be taxed.

 

[ivwshane]

Gotta love the anti-Christian bigotry behind this idea. They shouldn't be taxed.

You do realize there are other religions besides Christianity?

 

[TerryMathews]

We should do away with all tax exemptions, that way everyone pays their fair share.

 

[Jaskalas]

They shouldn't be taxed.

For what reason?

 

[mizzou]

the mega churches should. the ones struggling to put butts in the seats with some meaningful prayer should not.

 

[Matt1970]

There wouldn't be much to tax anyways besides property taxes and a lot of churches exist in rented buildings and storefronts anyways.

All the salaries of all the employees are deductable.
The costs of building and maintaining the chuch are deductable.
Donating the money they do to charities are deductable.

 

[Anarchist420]

$2tn is already too much.

 

[nephilim2k]

All religions should be taxed appropriately.

10% of all donations (whether money, clothes, food etc) total value should be taxed

Property should be taxed appropriately based on its value (In the uk this is council tax, not sure what the US call this).

Pastor/Imam/Priest/Rabbi/Guru/bishops etc - should pay the appropriate taxes on their salary rather than having almost all of it tax free. There is a loophole in the US IRS which allows them to have their salary at 4% tax (or theirabouts) because of all of their charitable time etc, and in the UK they have a tax break of 18%, and considering base tax is 20%, they only pay 2% tax, which considering there are around 500'000 places of worship in the UK, all with at least one priest/pastor etc, that is a large amount of tax not being paid!!

This would make things leveled out and would bring in large revenues for the governments.

 

[owensdj]

I thought churches weren't taxed because they're non-profit?

 

[ivwshane]

If you tax non profits like any other business they would either have zero to pay in taxes or they would only be paying taxes on whatever savings they have.

What's the problem?

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

You do realize there are other religions besides Christianity?

If they would protest taxation he'd make five threads whining about it.

Don't expect him to be consistent or even coherent, he's used to stormfront where that isn't required.

 

[nephilim2k]

I thought churches weren't taxed because they're non-profit?

No religion is "non profit".

Have you seen the Vatican?
Have you seen Mecca?

Almost all places of worship have a surplus of funds every year, between $10k-$30k. You can see their tax returns on the Freedom Of Information Act.

 

[Matt1970]

No religion is "non profit".

Have you seen the Vatican?
Have you seen Mecca?

Almost all places of worship have a surplus of funds every year, between $10k-$30k. You can see their tax returns on the Freedom Of Information Act.

If you want to tax it than all they have to do is spend it by the end of the year and then their taxable income is zero. And I don't think the Freedom Of Information Act allows you to start going through IRS returns.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I thought churches weren't taxed because they're non-profit?

They're non profit and donor sustained. If a church requires to be paid for admission then feel free to tax that.

 

[IronWing]

For tax purposes religious establishments really shouldn't be treated any different than other social clubs. Religion-based charitable activities should be treated under tax law as any secular charity might be. Preachers should pay taxes on income subject to the same deductions as anyone else. Religious property should be taxed as any other property would be. If a secular charity gets a property tax break on a soup kitchen, then so should a religious charity If a country club pays property tax on its golf course and clubhouse then a religious establishment should pay taxes on its building and grounds.

As far as I know, in the US, preachers do pay income tax subject to the same deductions and credits as anyone else.

Edit: Donations/tithes to religious organizations should likewise be treated as donations to any other social club. The portion of such donations that go to charitable works should be allowed deductions to the donor. The portion that goes to maintaining the religious organization/infrastructure should not be deductible to the donor.

 

[Matt1970]

All religions should be taxed appropriately.

10% of all donations (whether money, clothes, food etc) total value should be taxed

Property should be taxed appropriately based on its value (In the uk this is council tax, not sure what the US call this).

Pastor/Imam/Priest/Rabbi/Guru/bishops etc - should pay the appropriate taxes on their salary rather than having almost all of it tax free. There is a loophole in the US IRS which allows them to have their salary at 4% tax (or theirabouts) because of all of their charitable time etc, and in the UK they have a tax break of 18%, and considering base tax is 20%, they only pay 2% tax, which considering there are around 500'000 places of worship in the UK, all with at least one priest/pastor etc, that is a large amount of tax not being paid!!

This would make things leveled out and would bring in large revenues for the governments.

Do you have a link to that? If anything they are taxed higher due to self employment.

'For income tax purposes, a licensed, commissioned, or ordained minister is generally treated as a common law employee of his or her church, denomination, or sect. There are, however, some exceptions such as traveling evangelists who may be treated as independent contractors. If you are a minister performing ministerial services, you are taxed on wages, offerings, and fees you receive for performing marriages, baptismals, and/or funerals.

The services you perform in the exercise of your ministry are generally subject to self-employment tax for social security purposes. See Publication 517, Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers, for limited exceptions from self-employment tax. '

Source IRS:
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc417.html

 

[nephilim2k]

Was a program I saw on CBS when visiting Maine last year. Various loopholes such as donating to the church and recieving donations backs thereby reducing taxable income. They can recieve a certain amount of income through this per year which substantially reduces taxable income.

 

[gevorg]

Scientology

 

[OverVolt]

It seems that since the 80s, and perhaps longer, religion has become quite intertwined with politics. Why shouldn't houses of worship pay taxes if everyone has to pay taxes?

Because their income is from charity derp. Its like taxing charity money. Its like taxing the red cross humanitarian aid or taxing your blood donations. Its dumb man. Their income is charity.