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From the Philly D Show, skip to the 7 minute mark:
The University of Tampa analysed that the U.S. apparently forgoes 71 billion dollars when exempting religious institutions from taxes from things like Property tax, donations, business enterprises, capital gains, and personage allowances.
While these institutions do mean good for people as a whole, non-profit organizations still have to pay taxes much like a business. So do you feel that institutions should have to pay taxes or that non-profit organizations become exempt from them as well?
I think that there should be no difference between religious and non-religious organizations. I think that any organization that builds up wealth should be paying taxes.
Those religious organizations that do not pile up wealth, work on a non-profit basis and do good for society, (and do some god-worshiping on the side), should not pay taxes. I mean, if they have nothing, they can't pay anything. If they spend all of their income on social purposes, fine. No bargain, no tax. If they spend all of their income except 1 $ on social purposes, have them pay 30 ct taxes on their 1$ bargain.
Those religious organizations that collect property and wealth and sponsor an alibi soup kitchen for the poor somewhere, they should pay taxes. Just like those businesses that make money and have some social thing on the side.
@Joshua, income tax is not the only tax in existence and while non-profit organizations do not entirely pay for income taxes (there's still the UBI aspect of taxes that they pay for) they still have to pay taxes elsewhere for having employees, sales tax, and some of these cannot always be deducted because it depends on where they are allocated, how much money is coming from non-related business practices, and how a state actually partitions their tax code as each state varies on how they tax business and non-profit organizations are taxed as businesses even though they are exempt largely from the income tax. http://funadvice.com/r/162tvk49371 And again, it's not odd to see churches not pay for a lot of things, which is explained in the video.
Setting the worship of any god or religion aside, I believe that if an organization or individual owns property, they should not be exempt.
Hundreds of thousands of people donate or make personal allowance everyday and many aren't tax exempt. Why should an institution be exempt just because it preaches religion? Does that mean if I start holding religious seminars in my house that I deserve to be tax exempt?
Tax God? Impossible. Tax the people who build institutions for worship? Yes, it's only fair to tax.
It depends on a religious institution. Not all religion are actually involve in social or civic affairs. Some are saying that it is a non profit organization but their wealth belong to a certain person and not to the organization. I guess the nation must evaluate and qualify first the activities of a religious institution and judge if they really are worthy for not paying taxes because they are already sharing it to the masses.
Also, most churches to a great deal to help people in need and don't ask the govt. to pay them back in the form of a tax return. Millions of children around the world are fed, clothed, and given needed medical treatment by large Ministries with the donations they recieve. Any reputable church will provide a financial statement showing where every dime was spent.
This is real tricky, but I just want to say that the government has "thrown" religion out of everything. (seperation of church and state) A public school can be sued for allowing a kid to pray or teching creationism. So, if religion can't be included in any form of govt., then they should be exempt. Churches don't get govt. bail-outs either.
Could you provide citation for that claim that “non-profit organizations like The Red Cross who do a ton of good things but still have to pay taxes.”? To my knowledge, Red Cross, Salvation Army and Goodwill do not pay income taxes. Also, I’m sure churches are taxed property tax.
Ministers have to pay taxes. My grandfather on my mother's side was a minister and he didn't get paid by the church. He was also a farmer and made his living from that, and paid into the church with his own money.
Did you read the rest of my question at least? What about non-profit organizations like The Red Cross who do a ton of good things but still have to pay taxes.
Definately..in order to provide help/relief to the under-privileged, charities, poor, etc...and present the Good News....
Yet churches ask for money all the time and priests/ministers/etc get paid for their services...
Yes, religious organizations should be tax exempt. We can't tax God, that would not be right.
No I don,t think so .Because these people also indulge in corruption.
It wouldn't make ssnse to tax God for the land he made :)
Here in Ohio churches don't pay property taxes.
That is odd.
