Our current tax laws provide tax exempt status for religion-owned buildings. Mosques, churches and temples go unburdened in our society and yet, as the cornerstones of their respective religious organizations they are the chief places of business and the primary money-makers for their organizations. Just as for Wal-Mart's and it's stores, a place of religion without it's chief commercial building would probably fail no differently than Wal-Mart would without it's super-centers.
Has freedom of religion been interpreted incorrectly with regards to our real estate tax laws? Is it time to re-think this matter of public law?
Please explain the rationale supporting your position on this issue.
2007-03-21 21:37:25 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ Other - Taxes
No.
Only the income of the preacher should be taxed, and that should include the value of his housing and auto if provided.
I don't even think a C corp should be taxed,, let the shareholders have that burden. Don't believe in double taxation,, but then you didn't ask that did you?
2007-03-22 00:25:50 · answer #1 · answered by Jo Blo 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This might be a stretch, but I think that they don't tax the churches because that has been part of a cultural practice, at least in the Jewish-Christian theology.
In Jewish history (based on the Old Testament and what I know from other respective individuals) there were twelve original tribes that made up the original cultural nation of Israel. One of those tribes, the Levities, were appointed as the priest and those to carry out and handle all the worship. When the time came for them to get their inheritance of land, the Levities weren't given any because it was understood that there were special towns and places where they could go. They were also able to go into settlements of the other tribes and find hospitatility.
Not that it is exactly similiar, but I think the same thought is held through history why we don't tax charitable organizations. Simply, they are not in the business of gaining and retaining their funds. They are their to support their exempt purpose.
Because of this, state and federal governements choose not to tax the entities as a form of good will. (Their 'income' or property.)
I'd also like to add the the potential property tax revenue that is not being collected is immaterial to the whole of all property taxes collected. Businesses pick up the bulk of the taxes with the mass of individuals supporting the rest.
And even if the exempt organizations were taxed, it would have little to no effect on how the local government operates and little effect on other's taxes. It is just too small.
Plus, there is a human factor involved. In the end you'd do much more damage in human anguish and political arguments than good.
It is better to leave good enough alone. There just isn't any benefit to taxing the exempt organizations.
2007-03-22 02:43:43 · answer #2 · answered by Molly 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely not. The current law of tax exemption for churches is the correct way to go.
Churches are the #1 source of charitiable giving in the world. No one, until now, believed they should be taxed. It's only now that the drive to secularize America has come about, they want the churches taxed.
Leave the churches be.
2007-03-21 21:46:56 · answer #3 · answered by C J 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hell ya. I can't stand going to church. The last time I went to church, they passed the plate 3 times. Once for the church, once for the missionaries, & once for a new add-on they were wanting to build. If I fell like picking up the bible & flipping threw a few chapters, I do it at home & it's free.They should all be taxed like all other businesses. That's basically what they are anyway.
2007-03-21 21:50:20 · answer #4 · answered by Fab 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i definitely support taxing churches like any other business. if you ask me, their workers should also be ordered to seek psychiatric help, and disclaimers should be posted on the doors to warn all who enter that they may be indoctrinated into a great untruth.
I can argue at length against these special exemptions that certain chosen religions receive, but the issue is too complex to address easily.
2007-03-21 21:47:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, I would not. With one exception that IS occasionally invoked: When a church becomes active in the political area it should lose its exempt status.
The government should stay out of church business and churches should stay out of government business.
2007-03-22 03:07:15 · answer #6 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, I would not want God to pay taxes.
2007-03-21 21:40:20 · answer #7 · answered by Dr Dee 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋