Churches And Clergy Pays No Taxes

[lordie]

Churches and clergy here in pa don't pay taxes

I found that wrong because for many reasons one is those taxes could go into the elderly pocket and two w all the clergy abuse it isn't right that the victim has to pay taxes and the abuser dont and third the church member has to pay taxes and the preacher doesn't . of course u say well the church give money to those who need it well that the tithe money get money from the church members . i think churches and clergy should pay taxes .it isn't right or honest

lordie

[Kingfisher]

Churches and clergy here in pa don't pay taxes

I found that wrong because for many reasons one is those taxes could go into the elderly pocket and two w all the clergy abuse it isn't right that the victim has to pay taxes and the abuser dont and third the church member has to pay taxes and the preacher doesn't . of course u say well the church give money to those who need it well that the tithe money get money from the church members . i think churches and clergy should pay taxes .it isn't right or honest

lordie

I'm not familiar with PA tax law, but it's my understanding that religious organizations in America still have to abide by the same 501©(3) regulations as other non-profits or they lose their exempt status. Pastors still have to pay personal income taxes, and there are restrictions on their personal property (that is, it has to be directly used in service of their church, you don't get a break just because you're ordained.) In some cases churches don't have to go through the initial approval process, being granted some measure of faith, but the hue and cry that they are exempt without obligation is misconstrued for political reasons. The problems with tax-exempt status, loopholes and corruption aren't limited to religious institutes.

I could be wrong about any or all of the above points, this is not to be taken as legal advice.

(Note to tech: please remove the "copyright" auto-formatting.)

[revtimothybland]

I believe you are right, Kingfisher. At least here in Texas it's like that. (I looked it up as part of research for a story I'm working on.)

My advice to anyone who wants to know better is to seek proper legal counsel, as you said King. Just becasuse I looked it up doesn't mean it's the same everywhere, nor that my testimony should be construed as legal advice. I'm not that smart.

[mark 45]

to the best of my knowledge,in michigan and indiana,the minister pays personal income taxes,but the church does not.however,they have to follow the laws to be tax exempt.

[lordie]

You all are right in your own ways

but i think it is still wrong either way

[Kingfisher]

While you may or may not agree, perhaps this will help you understand the reasoning behind the law.

A Constitutional Analysis of Tax Exemption for Churches and the Secular Coalition of America's Proposed Changes

As for fairness, rather than churches being taxed too little, perhaps it's the rest of the citizenry who are being taxed too much. Lately "general welfare" seems to be interpreted as "any purpose we please." Interestingly, paying our debts doesn't seem to be one of those things.

[mererdog]

i think churches and clergy should pay taxes .

I agree. Mostly because I don't like putting the government in the position of deciding what does and does not qualify as religious activity.

[Raincloud]

I am happy for churches to be tax free.

Making them taxed. Makes them exactly no different than large corporations. It also empowers them to have all the influence that large corporates have.

Large corporates can do far more in society than any church.

Why are all the Atheists focussing on Churches, yet say nothing about the large corporates who give massive subsidies and who pay little tax (through evasion)??

It's because the Atheist lobby seems to have little grasp on business and Economics.

If people think taxing churches will dis-empower them, they are surely mistaken.

Give the money to the elderly? The tax becomes the government's money. Last time I checked Republicans work full time to cut welfare and pass subsidies and tax breaks along to..... Corporations (that are taxed).

[kokigami]

I am happy for churches to be tax free.

Making them taxed. Makes them exactly no different than large corporations. It also empowers them to have all the influence that large corporates have.

Large corporates can do far more in society than any church.

Why are all the Atheists focussing on Churches, yet say nothing about the large corporates who give massive subsidies and who pay little tax (through evasion)??

It's because the Atheist lobby seems to have little grasp on business and Economics.

If people think taxing churches will dis-empower them, they are surely mistaken.

Give the money to the elderly? The tax becomes the government's money. Last time I checked Republicans work full time to cut welfare and pass subsidies and tax breaks along to..... Corporations (that are taxed).

well, this agnostic, objects to corporations as well. I make no distinction between the two. And my experience with atheists has been a mixed bag of libertarians, socialists, and the apolitical. I think you are making an inaccurate generalization.

Edited April 14, 2014 by kokigami

[Jonathan H. B. Lobl]

I am happy for churches to be tax free.

Making them taxed. Makes them exactly no different than large corporations. It also empowers them to have all the influence that large corporates have.

Large corporates can do far more in society than any church.

Why are all the Atheists focussing on Churches, yet say nothing about the large corporates who give massive subsidies and who pay little tax (through evasion)??

It's because the Atheist lobby seems to have little grasp on business and Economics.

If people think taxing churches will dis-empower them, they are surely mistaken.

Give the money to the elderly? The tax becomes the government's money. Last time I checked Republicans work full time to cut welfare and pass subsidies and tax breaks along to..... Corporations (that are taxed).

Atheist lobby? What b.s. fantasy is this?

[Dan56]

Lots of large companies pay no income tax; General Electric, Boeing, Verizon, Corning, and PG&E among them.
Neither do half of all Americans pay any income tax. I personally just finish my 31 page tax returns 2 weeks ago, the effort
paid off as I legally paid no tax. If churches were not tax exempt, most would still pay nothing via tax write-offs and
re-investing profits. Only in America Its why every candidate who ever proposed a flat tax has been soundly defeated.

[panpareil]

Taxes have been despised by all since their invention in antiquity. They have been in existence for so long and have become so culturally ingrained that few see them as the blatant theft that they really are. The indoctrination is so complete few even see the meaning of the story of Robin Hood, which is not stealing inequitably distributed wealth from rich business men and redistributing it to the poor, but instead reclaiming taxes back from the government and the cronies who benefit from the government largess or oppression of their competitors, and returning it to the common taxpayers who are the target of government oppression or do not benefit from government largess, and in the process toppling the illegitimate and burdensome government to restore the true rulership.

[Smurf]

Church's only have to follow government guidelines IF thy are 501C3. If they do this then the government has the RIGHT to say what can be preached from the pulpit. If a church does not go down that road they STILL get the breaks, but do not answer to anyone buy God.

Churches have always been tax exempt, the 501 thing is the best web Satan has spun in a long time.....