Why are Churches not taxed like any other business.Don't they recieve the same services?

Question

Why do I have to pay extra taxes to supply free services to churches?

too many good answers, time to go to voting.

Oh yes services include fire departments, police, roads, and all the other services and public maintenance everybody else pays for out of property and business taxes.

Answer 1

Because of the so called separation of church and state. The church is not allowed "representation" and as we know "no taxation without representation."

What free services?
All who attend church are citizens as well and pay taxes so they already pay for police, fire etc. and churches do have to pay for their own expenses, utilities. insurance etc.

Answer 2

Churches are under the classification of charitable organizations. At one time, churches were the major force in caring for the poor and sick. It was believed that they provided so many services to the community that by not taxing them they would have greater resources to offer these services.

That was before religion became a business. Too many churches have gone from Non-Profit Organizations to Personal Profit Organizations. Note the number of so-called non-denominational churches. Denominational churches spread their wealth from the wealthier churches to poorer churches to ensure that they continue to operate. Non-denominational churches can keep a huge share of their wealth in the pastor's wallet.

I'm sorry if this sounds jaded but I have some negative experiences with greedy preachers.

Answer 3

Read those tax laws carefully. Churches exist not only as places of worship, but to allocate resources collected to feed the poor, house the homeless, clothe children, and spread the Gospel. It does none of these things to earn a profit. Similarly to churches you will also find that charitable organizations such as Salvation Army, Red Cross, Goodwills and Thrift Stores are also not taxed like other businesses. Section 503(c) corporations that specialize in providing health services to the indigent are also not taxed like other businesses. The biggest thing being that such organizations (churches, hospitals, thrifts, etc.) use their resources to give a benefit to humanity and they provide services free of charge.

Very different from what a normal business does.

Answer 4

it has long been said that" the power to tax is the power to control"
we here in USA do not want the government to control the churchs and we do not want the churchs to control the government. that is what they do in Islamic countries and you see how it works.
So we separate the church and state in our constitution to preserve the independence of each and respect peoples religions and their rights to worship as they choose. It is a deliberate and careful choice based upon compromise.

so just as some older citizens with grown children and perhaps some people with no children at all, are required to pay their share of school costs and taxes. This is not fair, but we have decided to do it anyway for the good of all. ( we all benefit form educated citizens)
The same with churchs. They get services at no cost and it is not fair to atheists but we have decided to tolerate this level of unfairness to obtain the larger goal. Freedom of religion. In fact thye do get a benefit. the freedom to be atheists. That is not tolerated where churchs are taxed, buddy. They hang atheists.

Anyway, atheists do not have to tithe to any church either and they are welcome to get free soup at the catholic church when they feed the hungry. so it all evens out.

This is a type of moral philosophy called "utilitarianism" that gauges the relative value of good over evil by selecting the greatest good for the greatest number. a flawed but useful theory hence the name. utilitarianism. It works but hurts the minority a bit. The constitution protects the minority from the majority, but not absolutely. This is one exception to the protection.
God bless all sinners!

Answer 5

Personally I think churches should be taxed because they supply a service to individuals and ask for payment (donations).

Answer 6

this is one area where separation of Church and State is good. Bur in the Scriptures Jesus tell the people to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is Gods. So they are definitely twp different things. Also what free services are you talking about? It's not like you pay their light bill or water you know.

Answer 7

Most Preachers are Hustlers. They don't teach the Word of God how it should be taught and all they do teach is Prosperity, how can this be when Jesus Christ had no where to live. And also tells us not to want for gain.

Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.

1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Answer 8

In America it's because of Constitutional wording. Government cannot RESPECT any specific religion. What's good for one is good for all. Government, in it's wisdom, decided NOT to tax Catholics, Protestants, Jewish, Muslims and now Scientologists.

But this ONLY applies to ORGANIZATIONS, not individuals.

Answer 9

Sorry my brother, but the church is not a business, it's an organization and just like other non-profit organizations that actually help people, it is supported by the tithe and offerings the MEMBERS, not you, give. So sorry to burst your bubble, but you can't get any credit for that.

Answer 10

You notice that when you ask a question about limiting prayers in school... they claim the US is a christain country. Then you ask them about paying taxes and they quickly remember separation of church and state...