Why Shouldn't Churches Religions & Related Entities Be Taxed?

Question

The tax-free status for churches dates back to the days when communities were settled and churches built by congregations of which everyone was member, The church collected money (taxes?) pew fees etc. from all and ran the community being essentially the local government, police and tax-collecting entity.

All that changed dramatically long ago. Now governments govern all people of all faiths and persuasions. They collect taxes and provide services..

So why hasn't the tax code changed?

The "separation of church and state" is certainly not the answer because this tax exemption is rather a separate and special distinctive treatment of religions by the government..

Answer 1

the tax exempt status of the church goes all the way back to the middle ages when the church decided that taking the property of a clergyman upon his death was much more preferable to losing it to the mans family...this was a time of course when priests could still marry and have families...nice huh?...
since then, the vatican has become the largest corporation on the face of the planet with billions of dollars in real estate, artifacts, art, books and manuscripts, and antiques...tax it all i say...

Answer 2

Separation of church and state.

Sorry, but it certainly IS the answer. Taxing the churches would give the government control and power over churches and would certainly invite attempts at favoritism, just like funding so called "faith-based initiatives" does.

Is it a special treatment of religions? Churches were not given exemptions because they were pseudo-governments, it is because they are non-profit organizations.

Now, what about mega-churches that troll their followers for huge money so their leaders can live extravagant lifestyles? The IRS should be all over them. How about ones that do political advocacy? Likewise. How about money-making cults that masquerade as religion? Maybe I covered that with the mega-churches, but I was thinking Scientology. The IRS should declare them not to be legitimate tax-exempt religious organizations.

There are plenty of non-religious entities that get tax-exempt status, so religious favoritism doesn't apply. The blanket tax exemptions also don't favor one church/cult/sect over another, so it does pass the "separation" smell test.

So I disagree that churches and religions should be taxed, but the government should be a bit more skeptical of what activities a church can legitimately engage in and retain that status.

Answer 3

I disagree. I am an Atheist with no love of religion, but to be fair, the tax code in the United States allows for any non-profit entity to accept untaxed donations. This should apply to churches because they are not in the form of a business structure, and because tithing is not mandatory in the U.S., the churches must survive strictly on handouts, which means there is not a lot left over at the end of the day. It would be unfair to prevent people from attending churches or any other civic organization for mere economic reasons.

Now if a church becomes too political, or become endowed and makes a healthy profit, it is possible that it could be taxed for violating applicable non-profit charity laws under the federal tax code. You see rules apply, but you can't use them to stifle a non-profit you don't like.

Thanks

Answer 4

I think the tax exemption should very from organization to organization. Organizations such as the giant mega-churches that are operated as a business and earn profits like a business ought to be taxed. Churches and religious organizations that don't make profits, that put their money back into their organization or give it away to charity should not be taxed.

Answer 5

Separation of church and state. Sorry, even regardless of the undeniable fact that it actual IS the respond. Taxing the church residences could grant the government administration and ability over church residences and could actual invite tries at favoritism, in easy words like investment so pronounced as "faith-based initiatives" does. Is it a undeniable therapy of religions? church residences weren't given exemptions via fact they have been pseudo-governments, it fairly is with the aid of the fact they're non-earnings companies. Now, what approximately mega-church residences that troll their followers for extensive money so their leaders can stay extravagant existence? The IRS could desire to be for the time of them. How approximately ones that do political advocacy? Likewise. How approximately money-making cults that masquerade as faith? in keeping with probability I lined that with the mega-church residences, yet i replaced into questioning Scientology. The IRS could desire to declare them to now no longer be valid tax-exempt religious companies. there are countless non-religious entities that get tax-exempt status, so religious favoritism does no longer practice. The blanket tax exemptions additionally do now no longer desire one church/cult/sect over yet yet another, so it does bypass the "separation" heady scent attempt. So I disagree that church residences and religions could desire to be taxed, besides the undeniable fact that the government could desire to be extremely extra beneficial skeptical of what activities a church can legitimately artwork at the same time in and look after that status.

Answer 6

Churches and religious organizations should be taxed. They are providing a consumer product no different than Nike, McDonalds, or Exxon oil.

Answer 7

I think that the church should be tax free.but all of bingo night should pay taxes,and don't forget banks don't pay taxes either

Answer 8

You are so smart...and right on! These entities, all of them, should be taxed the same as all of us.