How can we make churches/synagogues/mosques pay taxes?

Question

IMO religion/spirutal services are bought and sold just like cell phone service or cable TV. How can we (the voter-taxpayers) get them paying taxes, just like other businesses?

Answer 1

If they have to pay taxes, then so should all the charities and political organizations and private universities, etc.

Red Cross, DNC, NAACP, Harvard, PETA, UAW, etc.

It's all or none, not just your pet peeves. Either there ARE non-taxable institutions, or there are not.

Not just the ones you have decided to not support.

Answer 2

I don't get why you would tax organizations that are helping the needed, ie charities. They are not "businesses" because they are not making profits on their services and they don't (or shouldn't) charge for them.

Ministers offer counseling for no charge... Church services cost nothing to attend... Churches often distribute food, clothing and money to the needy in thier communities... And that's not to mention all the other services that are offered for free or next to nothing.

Ministers have to pay taxes on their salaries, as do any other employees.

The problem is not in the taxing/non-taxing of chruches. The problem is that the government has allowed so many lousy loopholes. The system needs to be fixed. Taxing churches would not fix the real problems but instead would hurt those churches that work on shoe string budgets (and there are many more of these than not).

Answer 3

Right now there is a religious exemption from many forms of tax (such as property taxes, corporate income taxes, etc.) However, I think if those exclusions were repealed (simply by a vote of the legislature) that would withstand a First Amendment challenge. The Court has pretty much ruled that generally applicable laws that apply neutrally to all people may also be applied to religions, so long as there is no intent to burden religion. In other words, religions don't get special treatment. The Court has recognized that the legislature MAY accommodate religious observances, (i.e. can make it legal for minors to consume alcohol at communion, or could make it legal for Native Americans to smoke peyote as part of their religious observances) but doesn't have to. Thus, the property tax exemption for religious property... ON the other hand, I think it could be taken away.

Now, as for being taxed "just like other businesses," MOST churches are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations; thus they don't pay taxes and donations to them are tax deductable. I don't think that law could be repealed without repealing the whole body of nonprofit law (which would really suck for the charities in the U.S.) So, don't expect them to pay income taxes on the weekly tithe, but if you want them to pay property taxes and other assessments, just petition your legislator!

Answer 4

The non-profit designation most churches have allow them to pay no taxes. However I agree with you that since churches and etc do charge for services they should have to pay taxes on the income from such paid services even if they pay no taxes on money donated by their congregations.

I think it should only be for services that the church or organization gets paid for that are taxed not everything they take in.
If we tax non profit organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army etc then we are penalizing the poorest amoung us. That is not right.

Answer 5

100% Yes! Furthermore, they should have complete disclosure on their earnings. They are supposed to be working for the public good. Spreading the word of God. Saving lives. Sharing good will around the world. Taking care of the sick and homeless. How in the hell can they afford the buildings they call churches! Give me a break. 70% of the worlds population starving and the Catholics own a damn city! Evangelic preachers get rich! Someone end this nightmare! The Church is a predator, feeding on the innocent and ignorant. Making false promises, giving back nothing, and expanding their own base of power and control throughout the world. WAKE UP!

Answer 6

Amend the IRS Code, Section 503 (sections a-c) by deleting it entirely. That is the basis of their income tax exemption, and most state and local governments would follow the lead by removind property, income and franchise tax exemptions.

It has been proposed before, but it had never passed.

Answer 7

Part of the problem with that is that they help the community just like the United Way and other non-profits. So you would have to tax the business part that is used to pay the clegy and such, but it wouldn't be fair to tax the charity work that they do when other non-profit BUSINESSES aren't taxed.

Answer 8

One way to get some to start paying taxes right away is to enforce the law that states they will lose their tax-exempt status if they get involved in politics.
But since any member of Congress that suggests that will be labeled anti-religion and be compared to the devil, this will not happen.

Answer 9

From what I understand, churches and those who attend church, are responsible for huge amounts of charitable contributions. Conservative dwarf Democrats in charitable contributions. So, if you tax these organizations, then less money makes it to worthy goals.
I would rather my church choose where the money goes than Uncle Sam, especially under the democrats.

Answer 10

In the cases where church officials endorse political candidates, redefine their church's tax status to political organization.

Problem solved.

In other cases, I'm not sure. It would probably require a Constitutional Amendment.