If churches paid taxes

[Kaieye]

I wonder if someone has put together a list of shopping malls, office and apartment buildings, radio and TV stations, newspapers, movie theatres, construction companies, new car dealerships, and etc. owned by churches.

And I wonder if any of them have ever paid a dime in taxes on their profits...

Ripped off from Craigslist by the way.


I wonder myself?

 

[Orsorum]

Makes you wonder. What if every business organization (including churches) was forced to pay taxes. How much of a tax shortfall would we have?

 

[Kipper]

Well, I think you have to draw a line somewhere - the churches, for example, who end up millions of dollars in the black...definitely taxed. Others, however - who knows? But there are always tax loopholes, so you could argue it's quite useless...

 

[Trevelyan]

Well in most cases to be exempt from taxes they must be classified as a certain type of non-profit organization. My dad works for one of these types, and let me tell you it is not an easy title to acquire. The IRS is pretty strict on it.

The reason a lot of these non-profit orgs like churches own a lot of buildings, offices, etc. is because in order to stay non-profit, they cannot have over a certain amount of money saved in bank accounts... so they reinvest it in property.

Sure, some non-profits companies cheat, but since when has taxes and the IRS ever been fair?

 

[IGBT]

Don't forget that we all pay more taxes so 5013c org's like churchs don't have to pay taxes. Nothing's free in this world. Somebody always pays. So the next time you pay your taxes realize your paying more so somebody can run around playing religion.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Kaieye
I wonder if someone has put together a list of shopping malls, office and apartment buildings, radio and TV stations, newspapers, movie theatres, construction companies, new car dealerships, and etc. owned by churches.

And I wonder if any of them have ever paid a dime in taxes on their profits...

Ripped off from Craigslist by the way.


I wonder myself?

but don't their sub companies (such as the malls, radio/tv stations/movie theaters, and construction companies) get taxed?? I didn't even know churches owned those types of companies.

 

[MJ99]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Makes you wonder. What if every business organization (including churches) was forced to pay taxes. How much of a tax shortfall would we have?

Your forgetting two big and important things
1) Taxes are only supposed to be paid on Income
Income is defind by congress as net profits of a business.
Charititable and Religious organazation do not produce income.

2) There are enough people in crongress that just like to spend and no matter how much taxes were collected it would not be enough. The solutin is to cut government spending not find new sources of revenue.

 

[Stark]

"separation of church and state" works both ways.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: MJ99

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Makes you wonder. What if every business organization (including churches) was forced to pay taxes. How much of a tax shortfall would we have?

Your forgetting two big and important things
1) Taxes are only supposed to be paid on Income
Income is defind by congress as net profits of a business.
Charititable and Religious organazation do not produce income.

2) There are enough people in crongress that just like to spend and no matter how much taxes were collected it would not be enough. The solutin is to cut government spending not find new sources of revenue.

1) There are all sorts of taxes, not just income. Churches are also exempt from property taxes.

2) I agree with you 100% there, raising more tax money is just a ticket to spend more, it's not a solution to anything.

3) I've always been in favor of taxing religions, but now I'm not too sure. The Catholic Church needs that money for lawyers and out of court settlements.

4) Can any of you true believers explain to me how your supposedly omnipotent Gods need donations and tax-free status to survive?

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: IGBT
Don't forget that we all pay more taxes so 5013c org's like churchs don't have to pay taxes. Nothing's free in this world. Somebody always pays. So the next time you pay your taxes realize your paying more so somebody can run around playing religion.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

4) Can any of you true believers explain to me how your supposedly omnipotent Gods need donations and tax-free status to survive?

god doesn't construct meeting places and pay for coffee himself, i suppose.

 

[psianime]

I'm sure that I won't see an IRS tax collector taking a cut out of my offerings at my church anytime soon...

 

[Red Dawn]

Churches definately should pay taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gopunk]

churches should just get treated as if they would if they were non-religious, imo... however other non-profits get taxed, that's how they should get taxed, if they are non-profit churches.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: gopunk
churches should just get treated as if they would if they were non-religious, imo... however other non-profits get taxed, that's how they should get taxed, if they are non-profit churches.

i'm pretty sure that no non-profit is taxed.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: gopunk
churches should just get treated as if they would if they were non-religious, imo... however other non-profits get taxed, that's how they should get taxed, if they are non-profit churches.

i'm pretty sure that no non-profit is taxed.

i could have sworn some are... but i could be wrong... regardless, if no non-profits are taxed, then neither should churches, provided they meet the requirements for non-profit organization status.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

4) Can any of you true believers explain to me how your supposedly omnipotent Gods need donations and tax-free status to survive?

god doesn't construct meeting places and pay for coffee himself, i suppose.

That's the point, why doesn't he? Supposedly he created an entire universe, but he can't pony up a couple of bunks to rent a hall and buy some donuts? The Great Cosmic Muffin wanted a universe, he built a universe. He wanted light, there was light. He wanted animals, he invented animals. He needed worshippers, poof, instant validation, worshippers to tell him how truly great he was. He allegedly (cough cough barf) created everything he wanted, but he didn't build a single church, gold candelabra or stained glass window.

 

[Antoneo]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

4) Can any of you true believers explain to me how your supposedly omnipotent Gods need donations and tax-free status to survive?

god doesn't construct meeting places and pay for coffee himself, i suppose.

That's the point, why doesn't he? Supposedly he created an entire universe, but he can't pony up a couple of bunks to rent a hall and buy some donuts? The Great Cosmic Muffin wanted a universe, he built a universe. He wanted light, there was light. He wanted animals, he invented animals. He needed worshippers, poof, instant validation, worshippers to tell him how truly great he was. He allegedly (cough cough barf) created everything he wanted, but he didn't build a single church, gold candelabra or stained glass window.

I'm telling you man, it's ALL a test of your faith in Him!