Should religions be taxed?

[Rex]

Do you think religions (i.e. the church) should be taxed?


elaborate for us.

 

[Engyo]

As long as separation of church and state is maintained, I see no reason for religion to be taxed (in the US).

This does not mean that religions or religious organizations should be above the law; they should not.

 

[Colin_Admin]

Sure churches should be taxed. They bring in revenue as every other business in this country does. People might say that this revenue is made up of donations, but the IRS says that you are only to receive so much in donations before it is taxed (ie, in the forms of a gift). I would like to know what other reasons a church should be sheltered from taxation.

 

[Rex]

Well not just taxed by the US. I think maybe some Global authority should tax all the churches of the world and give the money out to the needed.

That has a nice ring to it.

 

[Lightkeeper]

Well not just taxed by the US. I think maybe some Global authority should tax all the churches of the world and give the money out to the needed.

That has a nice ring to it.

I thought that most churches gave to the needy. Do you think the churches are big business and using money for other than the needy? I'm really curious about this.

 

[Rex]

Well not just taxed by the US. I think maybe some Global authority should tax all the churches of the world and give the money out to the needed.

That has a nice ring to it.

I thought that most churches gave to the needy. Do you think the churches are big business and using money for other than the needy? I'm really curious about this.

Well I don't personally think they have given their fair share. Religions have killed millions over thousands of years. Whatever they have given is minimal to what they could give.

I mean do you need to go to a multi-million dollar church? Does the pope need a pope-mobile?

things like this.

 

[Engyo]

Colin -

OK, how are you going to structure such a tax? Is it going to apply equally to all religions? Are atheists a religion? What if I declare that Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy.... is it still taxable?

I am certain that there would be (again, in the US) a "killing the golden goose" effect. Much of the money donated to churches is deducted from federal income taxes. Would these donations still be tax deductible, since the organization the money is donated to is no longer tax exempt? If people lose this as a tax shelter, they have less incentive to donate, which drops the church's revenue, which drops the tax value realized by the taxing authority. In addition if I know that a certain percentage of every dollar I give to my church goes back to federal coffers, I may decide not to donate for that reason.

Of course my church could decide to set up an affiliated tax-exempt non-profit, and ask all the parishioners to donate there. That org could then donate back to the church just enough money to pay expenses, plus the tax on that donation.

As I said earlier, I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state. Anything that blurs that line, including taxation of churches, sounds dangerous to me.

 

[Runt]

OK, how are you going to structure such a tax?

We could treat churches like corporations... if they accept donations these donations are taxed much like donations to an individual or corporation are.

However, I personally don't think they should be taxed. They are non profit organizations, not businesses. Their clergy are...private contractors, sort of... who are taxed individually just like any person working anywhere is...

 

[Lightkeeper]

I agree with keeping the church and state separate. We have the option of not giving to a church we think is misusing the money.

 

[Green Gaia]

Hey Rex, I saw your thread about this subject over at veggieboards. I can't believe someone thought you were cactus! lol :shock:

 

[Colin_Admin]

OK, how are you going to structure such a tax? Is it going to apply equally to all religions? Are atheists a religion? What if I declare that Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy.... is it still taxable?

Well see what will happen is it will be for any entity that recieves donations. It wont matter if they are considered a philosophy or a religion. If they accept donations then they will have to pay taxes on the moneys that they receive over the specified amount allowed. The IRS will set a specific limit to how much the entity can receive without taxation. We as individuals can only receive so much a year in donations or gifts from a friend or family member. Once we have met the max for that year we have to pay taxes on it. The church or organization will have to do the same.