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Do you think Churches should be taxed?

JanisChambers

Thinker
J
Joined
Jan 26, 2007
Messages
174
Note: I was unsure if putting this post in Politics was the best choice, It has to do with governmental policies so I suppose this is appropriate

The Church enjoys a free ride, no matter how big the church is or how fat their coffers get they do not have to so much as report the amount of money they make. Anyone can claim a religion and magically they are exempt from the same burden we all are, just imagine all the tax money we are cheated out of by these louses, especially the giant mega churches in the "heartland" of America.

I can't support the idea that by taxing them we legitimize their organizations. Taxing a group doesn't mean they are supported, it simply means that the government sees money flowing, and they are going to get their cut. Maybe to be fair smaller churches can still be exempt, a "Well fare church", in order to lull the seething angry masses who would speak out against 'Taxing God'. The gigantic churches in Colorado and the Televangelists such as Benny Henn deserve no special rights when it comes to both reporting their income and paying what they owe.

If only we could take some form of legal action that could make a difference, sadly I do not hold out much hope.
 
Most definitely. If they were actual not-for-prophet ;) organizations then it might be different. Plus, who decides which groups are a valid religion and which aren't? I see no reason why any religion should be granted special favors by the government.
 
I agree that Churches should be taxed unless they can prove that their motives are altruisitic, which they can't.
 
Yes especially mega churches because they take up hugh amounts of real estate that could be used by a company that hired people and paid salaries and paid taxes. Except for their congregation they help no one and cause traffic problems for people who don't even attend the church.
 
If a Church has a physical locality, it should suffer property taxes. If it's a group of individuals taking turn meeting in basements and living rooms, then no property tax.

If any member of the Church makes income from Church activities - for example, a salaried priest - they should pay income tax. If the Church sells something, they should pay sales tax.

If the church receives donations and uses them in an approvable manner as a not-for-profit organization, they should be treated the same as any not-for-profit organization. If, however, they collect donations which then sit in some account, gathering interest, which are used sporadically and unmethodically for occasional charity use, tax it.

If the church leader/s wear gold or silver during the services, tax'em double. :D
 
Except, you know...

Help! Help! We're being persecuted!

But seriously, I don't see how churches are tex-excempted either, especially those that claim not to be religions, but personal relationshops with God. I don't remember reading anything anywhere about tax breaks for institutions promoting personal relationships:p?
 
JanisChambers said:
Oy, we could probably find the cure to Aids with the money those guys go though.
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Thats what the aliens are trying to prevent.

I am under the impression that churches can not be tax free if the are used to promote a political point of view. If I am correct, I have yet to see any religious organization that doesn't. From Billy Grahm, the Phelps and the Catholic church to Rev Al Sharpton and Rev Jessie Jackson, I don't know any religious organization that follows this sentiment.
 
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The power to tax is the power to destroy. Thus, to support true freedom of religion, I support the freedom from taxation that churches share.
 
firecoins said:
Thats what the aliens are trying to prevent.

I am under the impression that churches can not be tax free if the are used to promote a political point of view. If I am correct, I have yet to see any religious organization that doesn't. From Billy Grahm, the Phelps and the Catholic church to Rev Al Sharpton and Rev Jessie Jackson, I don't know any religious organization that follows this sentiment.
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Well every individual in that organization has every right to vote, it is no secret that the right-wing uses the pulpit to lean voters in their direction. In a sense they already vote as an entity anyway, the only thing missing is the revenue Mr. Preacher makes off his sheep.

Heh, Just thought about this. If the Preachers and other religious leaders do not have to pay taxes on their revenue, then why should they be able to vote? The idea is "no Taxation without Representation" well there's no taxation so.....
 
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I think churches should be treated no differently than any other non-profit organization. To do otherwise would, IMO, be discriminatory.
 
Cleon said:
I think churches should be treated no differently than any other non-profit organization. To do otherwise would, IMO, be discriminatory.
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If they are truly non-profit, but even they have to report their expenditures, churches do not. And what is Benny Hinn's seccond job again?
 
JanisChambers said:
If they are truly non-profit, but even they have to report their expenditures, churches do not.
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Correct. And non-profits do pay many taxes that churches don't, such as property taxes.

What I advocate is clearly not the status quo.
 
JanisChambers said:
If they are truly non-profit, but even they have to report their expenditures, churches do not. And what is Benny Hinn's seccond job again?
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That's not what "non-profit" means. The CEO of the Red Cross still draws a salary, as does the president of Harvard University. Both of those are non-profit organizations.

"Non-profit" simply means that the OWNERS don't make any profit (i.e. it doesn't pay dividends like a typical stock).

Heck, I myself draw my salary from a "non-profit" organization. If faculty couldn't be paid to teach, we wouldn't be able to offer any classes.
 
Cleon said:
Correct. And non-profits do pay many taxes that churches don't, such as property taxes.
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Depends on the jurisdiction, I guess. Part of the problem in my home town is that too many "non-profits" don't pay property or income taxes; the local universities (of which there are something like a dozen), the local hospitals (of which there are something like eight), the local churches (countless), &c. all pay nothing in taxes. The end result is that the local police department seems to come around to my house on a Friday asking for their paychecks....
 
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