live in? SO many atheist complain about churches not paying taxes. I think they have incomplete info. CHurches pay taxes on their phone bills, electric, and gas bills. They also pay for permits, and inspecions. They do not pay property tax and they do not pay corporate income taxes because they are tax exempt. Pastors are taxed- just like you and me.
2007-11-09 06:32:42 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So quit the whining. If you tax a church you will need to tax every charitiable organization and educational organization too.
If not-for profits were taxed then you'd really have a tax problem because you would be paying more in taxes to help the poor that the churches are helping now.
We have 60 members in our church but we provide food for 5 families a week- who are not even attending our church.
2007-11-09 06:36:07 · update #1
bregwieg- churches are taxed on everything but income, sales and property taxes. They pay taxes on everything else. Take a finance course- you might learn something.
2007-11-09 06:39:21 · update #2
Churches cannot endorse politiacal candidates. If they do they can lose their tax exempt status. Ours does not endorse candidates or allow them to speak at the church. The IRS has been slow to act on churches that do, which is unfortunate.
2007-11-09 06:43:23 · update #3
Balaam- Our pastors biggest perk is the occasional plate of cookies old ladies bringhim Should that be taxed?
2007-11-09 06:54:00 · update #4
The only pastors that people complain about are the pastors who consume perks with the money of the parishioners.
For the record, they don't teach tax law in a finance course. hth
2007-11-09 06:51:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ones I don't think should have to pay taxes would be military, Police, teachers and any public service employees who get paid with tax money (I have to hold politicians exempt from this as they're corrupt enough for the most part, we don't need to give them another reason to tax the crap out of the american people). Ministers and the such like, I could care less whether or not they pay taxes.
2007-11-09 06:40:36 · answer #2 · answered by lupinesidhe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People are required to pay taxes on their personal income...that's the law. Pastors are no different.
Churches are exempt from property tax and corporate income tax...that's what we atheists don't like. Especially when a church tries to influence political decision making.
Now when you say this....
"We have 60 members in our church but we provide food for 5 families a week- who are not even attending our church."
What do you want? A good citizenship medal?????
EDIT: When a pastor talks his congregation into voting for one particular candidate in a presidential election, because that candidate "stands for" what the church itself stands for...then that IS using religion to promote a political agenda...no matter how you want to justify it. For example....last presidential election...pastors nationwide were telling their congregations to vote for Bush, because a vote for Kerry would have been a vote against a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage....
Do you have a pipe? Put that in it......
2007-11-09 06:41:23 · answer #3 · answered by Adam G 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Pastors pay income tax--and?
Church don't pay property taxes, despite owning lots of high value land.
Not the same thing.
2007-11-09 07:27:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Taxes on the phone bill, electric/gas bill, permits and inspections...lol..whoo-whoopi-doo. Those are so miniscule compared to what the average citizen pays, I would be ashamed to mention them as an example if I were you. Property tax alone puts a severe dent in most of our pocket books.
2007-11-09 06:42:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
"churches are taxed on everything but income, sales and property taxes."
pffftt...you say that like its nothing. if that's no biggy, then why can't everyone get that kind of deal?
reality: churches save BILLIONS of dollars every year via beneficial tax laws.
heres a suggestion, brought to you by your king Jebus: "give unto Cesar what is Cesar's"
2007-11-09 06:46:42 · answer #6 · answered by Free Radical 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
"They do not pay property tax and they do not pay corporate income taxes because they are tax exempt."
so what's this rant about again?
2007-11-09 06:40:28 · answer #7 · answered by ʌ_ʍ ʍr.smile 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, just like the rest of us that work.
2007-11-09 07:33:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um, I'm not the one whining here, you are.
And to answer you're question: good, I'm glad he DOES have to pay taxes like the rest of us.
2007-11-09 06:38:01 · answer #9 · answered by Quaoar Rocks! 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Awww, the poor guy has to pay taxes?
"They do not pay property tax and they do not pay corporate income taxes because they are tax exempt."
I knew this already, and I think it's a steaming pile of crap.
2007-11-09 06:38:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋