I continue to hear many complaints and criticism from various people becuase Mormons have to pay 10% of their income to pay their tithes, however, even though I am not Mormon, it seems that if you are able to use it as a tax write off, you actually wouldnt be paying 10% of your income becuase you would get some of it back, it actually doesnt seem that bad. Am I wrong, or have the wrong idea? Also how does the church know how much you make? Do they actually look at your pay stubs, or do you pay via the honor system? Thank you for all of your answers.
2007-04-07 04:41:59 · 11 answers · asked by kris76 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's considered a donation, just like any donation to any other group, so it is tax deductable. We don't get it all back, but we don't pay it because we get some of it back. We pay it because the scriptures said that tithes need to be paid (Malachi 3:8-10). There are a few old laws from before Christ that He said still needs to be in force. Tithing is one of them. It isn't a commandment, but it's something that we believe will help the church, and help us in the long run. It's used to build buildings, humanitarian aid, to help those who need help- not only members, but anyone who needs it. It doesn't go to leaders of the church to pay them. Every calling in the church is a volunteer position. No one gets paid, not even the prophet.
The church doesn't know how much you make. They don't really care. We pay what we can, and we go by our pay stubs. It's basically the honor system, but to go to the temple, you have to be a full tithe payer. They don't ever check to see how much you make, so even that is on the honor system too.
It really isn't bad to pay that. In fact, I have found many times that when we pay our tithing, we get many blessings. We always seem to have enough to pay our bills and even a little extra when we pay our tithing. It also makes me feel good to know I am helping others that are less fortunate then I am.
2007-04-07 05:48:56 · answer #1 · answered by odd duck 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
It is completely based off of the persons word. There are what is known as "Tithing settlements" which are held at the end of the year. These will vary from Bishop to Bishop in how they are ran but as with anything in the church you are not forced to do it and though many people I know will bring in proof of their income to show the bishop I have attended several "Tithing settlements" where I did not bring any sort of documentation and the Bishop simply took my word for what I said. There was never any sort of repercussions for those events and I was never looked upon any lower. I am still and always have been a member in good standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Now there is one way that a bishop or any member of the church can easily tell if a member of the church is faithfully paying their tithing. You look at how active they are in the church. Being a Latter-Day Saint is very demanding. You need to have a very strong testimony or you will fall away, and all to often when people fall away they become horribly embittered towards the church, but that is a tale for another question. A person who has a testimony of this Church will gladly pay tithing and not because they are conforming or being brainwashed but because they have in the process of gaining that testimony learned about the Lords commandment to pay a full tithe and so the only desire to follow God's commandments.
2016-04-01 02:09:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply, yes, it's a "charitable contribution". However, there are certain limits and rules for obtaining/getting a deduction (which is the case with many itemized deductions). Further, it would not typically be that you are getting your tithing back, but are getting back some of the taxes you already paid, thus it is called a "refund."
Lastly, no, the church does not check your pay stubs, it is totally based on the "honor system" or honesty. They just ask and you tell them if you paid a "full tithe" or not. If you lie you are only lying to God.
2007-04-10 10:20:48 · answer #3 · answered by straightup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Canada we claim our tithes as a "charitable donation". I think it's the same in the United States too. We get a tax stub to submit. Payment of tithing is on the honour system. But we believe in being honourable, so there it is.
And the benefits of paying tithing goes far beyond tax write-offs.
We feel that God has given us everything...family, job, life itself. We give 10% of our annual increase to the Lord to say thank you. And it helps people in all parts of the world...tithing pays for the maintenance and use of meetinghouses (electricity, water, sewage, etc.), helps with missionaries, helps with the poor...tithing blesses lives.
And it blesses the giver.
2007-04-09 11:11:10 · answer #4 · answered by Fotomama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never thought of it as we were getting some of our tithing back, so we weren't really paying 10%. That's a good point. The leaders don't look at your pay subs. It is on a honor system. If you wanted to cheat on your tithe you could. No one would know except you and God. I wouldn't want to be the person would does that. The best thing would be to be honest with your tithe or not to pay it at all.
2007-04-09 04:47:15 · answer #5 · answered by MistyAnn 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not only Mormons, but anyone of any denomination can claim donations/tithes to the church.
God only asked for 10% of our earnings; if this helps to generate a refund, then a tithe is paid on the refund.
The church does not look at our pay stubs, this is not necessary. God knows all things and we cannot 'cheat' Him.
2007-04-07 04:57:01 · answer #6 · answered by shendley04 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
It's done on the honor system. The Bishop asks you if YOU believe you have paid an honest tithe. It's between you and GOD. When you are talking with the bishop in a tithing settlement or a temple recommend interview, you are not answering the questions for the bishop, but for God. MOST times, the bishop has no idea if you are lying or not. And it's not his intention or anything to CATCH you in a lie. If there is any problems in your life, it's his job, his want, to HELP you as much as possible.
Yes, I think you can deduct your tithes, but I'm not sure, I don't know that we ever did.
2007-04-07 17:29:50 · answer #7 · answered by mormon_4_jesus 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
For one we are not forced to pay tithing. However we are blessed by the Lord if we do pay. We also have to do tithing and live according to the things in the scriptures to hold a Temple recommend. The recommend allows us to seal our family's to each other. As well as getting spiritual benefits for ourselves.
Yes we are able to take our tithe off on taxes and as far as how we figure out how much we owe it is up to us to pay an honest tithe. I have personally felt the lord has blessed me with more than I have paid so its hard for me to look at paying tithe as a draw on my finances as the lord seems to make up for it. I also look at it in this way as I am a convert of just a few years now: I was paying a bar bill much higher and was spending the money on several other things that I do not do any more those things were not making me happy and were good things not to continue. You seem to pay tith to one master or the other in the long run. With God I know the tithe goes to a good cause.
2007-04-07 05:35:29 · answer #8 · answered by saintrose 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Yes, tithing is considered a charitable donation so we get to use the amount as a deduction... a deduction and blessings! Tithing is great.
2007-04-10 09:17:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can write off the gifts to any charity. As a non-mormon as well, I can tell you why they complain is how they calculate what is the 10% owing that makes them complain more than the historical Christian church.
2007-04-07 10:29:51 · answer #10 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋