Are church membership dues deductible?

Question

For US taxes, are membership dues paid to a church or a temple tax deductible (the same way a donation is) or not?

Answer 1

Generally, yes. There are some rules laid out in IRS Publication 526 regarding membership fees paid to qualified organizations (and most churches should be). They generally say that membership fees are deductible to the extent that the contribution is more than the value of the benefits one receives. There are certain membership benefits that can be disregarded for purposes of this rule. Such benefits would be only determinable at the individual church level. See page 4 of Pub 526 under Membership fees or dues.

My church doesn't require membership fees--there are categories of contributions, but no specific membership fees--so I'm not familiar with the types of benefits that such fees might provide to someone.

Answer 2

Membership dues to a church are usually actually contributions.

This isn't the case for memberships to all non-profits. A membership to the zoo for example would not be, since you get the right to the entertainment of going to the zoo.

Answer 3

What kind of church makes you pay membership fees? The fee was paid by Jesus when he died on the cross and allowed us to go to heaven when he resurrected. I've never been a member of a church I had to pay to be a member of. I just got baptized or joined.

Answer 4

If the church replaced into taxed, then we would be taxed, for making that contribution, to help help our church in stead of it being a tax deduction. and that i don't might desire to pay the government from now on money, than I already do. God Bless you.

Answer 5

Yes, along with all donations to nonprofit organizations everywhere, for example, alcoholics anonymous .

Answer 6

so hold on....you can't prove they exist, but Gods are tax deductable? that is just about as funny as the thought of Bush being elected for a second term....hold on...you done that as well ha ha ha ha ha