Should churches pay taxes?

[nerp]

In this economy, would be a nice boost for cash-strapped municipalities. Perhaps at a lower rate. But it seems to me that tax exempt status for "churches" is questionable for a number of reasons. PILOT funds could be another option. But in a secular society, the govt shouldn't discriminate between property owners. Pay up.

 

[spidey07]

HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

 

[SuperSix]

Of course - it's a business like any other.

Will they? I doubt it- should they? Absolutely.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

 

[MovingTarget]

Because some religions are by their very nature, organized, taxing them would amount to a tax on religion itself. This is just as bad as giving $$ to any religion, just on the opposite end of the spectrum. Besides, many operate on a non-profit status. Leave 'em alone. Try taxing pot or something - much more bang for your buck.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
Of course - it's a business like any other.

Will they? I doubt it- should they? Absolutely.

:thumbsup:

 

[AreaCode707]

Church type person here. I'm actually overall not opposed to churches/religious organizations paying taxes (maybe take money that's serving a charitable purpose and keep that tax free, like feeding the hungry stuff.)

I could see it potentially infringing upon free exercise of religion though... what if you're the Jewish minority in a small town and you scrape together enough to pay a rabbi, but taxes would push it over the edge so you could no longer afford it? Kind of sketchy example but it's the one that comes to mind.

 

[seemingly random]

A church, etc, should have its tax exempt status revoked if it's not following the current laws, at the very least. This would include discussing and attempting to sway their audience politically.

Baseball shouldn't be tax exempt either.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Exactly. Atheists do not organize so they dont understand the nature of nonprofit charitable work churches do.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
Of course - it's a business like any other.

Will they? I doubt it- should they? Absolutely.

This is how I feel.

 

[meltdown75]

seems laughable, as they don't really have any income (don't say anything about collection plates or donations you are a surely a troll and we can lock up the thread). furthermore, the land that they are on is not zoned for commercial or industrial activity.

it's a place of worship, not a business.

there are more exempt property types than you can possibly imagine, trust me on that laddy, i've worked in assessment for a decade.

if you're going to go after places of worship ("churches" isn't broad enough of a term in this case, you must include all places of worship - mosques, shrines, temples etc), what's next? parks? cemeteries? why don't we just tax homeless shelters?

a clue. get one. i have a feeling you're just pulling the ole religious troll anyway, but i decided to give you the time of day. it's STFU time.

 

[JS80]

If church's pay taxes then all non-profits should pay taxes and the government should pay taxes too.

 

[RESmonkey]

HELL YES!

Some churches do good for the world, but organized religion is a backwards practice and spreads stupidity. Stupidity is dangerous. Some churches are also very much like businesses. They should be taxed.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Exactly. Atheists do not organize so they dont understand the nature of nonprofit charitable work churches do.

What about every non-religious organization?

 

[RESmonkey]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Exactly. Atheists do not organize so they dont understand the nature of nonprofit charitable work churches do.

What about every non-religious organization?

As long as it doesn't spread false ideas that people take to be true, it's fine.

 

[sdifox]

I don't have a problem with their tax free status as long as they stay out of politics. Once they start lobbying, they lose the tax exemption status.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Once they get to be a certain size they should. Churches that demand a certain percentage of their parishioners' earnings should as well.

Little country churches that demand nothing but receive enough to stay in operation AND give to the community simply because of the kindness of their members? No.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Exactly. Atheists do not organize so they dont understand the nature of nonprofit charitable work churches do.

Scientology.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Wouldn't churches be able to simply spin their charitable work off into an NPO, and then write off donations to the NPO on their taxes? Churches that spend all or nearly all of their net income on charitable contributions will pay no taxes and megachurches that are in it for a profit will die on the vine.

Seems like a win (the charities) / win (the public) / win (churchgoers whose good names are being ruined by megachurches and pushy fundies)

 

[RESmonkey]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Exactly. Atheists do not organize so they dont understand the nature of nonprofit charitable work churches do.

Scientology.

Atheists are not Scientologists. Do you even know what the word "atheism" means?

 

[So]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Exactly. Atheists do not organize so they dont understand the nature of nonprofit charitable work churches do.

Scientology.

Did you just call scientologists atheists? They're as religious as Catholics.

 

[meltdown75]

talk to your local government if you want change. go talk to your municipality about taxing "churches". i only ask that you please post a thread about it, so i can laugh in there too. dumbasses.

 

[KeithTalent]

I think certain churches (very few I would imagine, but some) operate more as a business than solely as a place of worship/charitable organization. I think those particular churches should be classified as businesses and taxed as such, with any charitable work they do remaining tax exempt. All normal places of worship, which is probably about 95% of the churches out there, should remain tax exempt as they are not revenue generators and forcing them to act as such could steer their focus from helping people/communities to more self-serving pursuits.

KT

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

You mean like dumping millions on anti-gay campaigns to sway votes in another state instead of using that money to help people who actually who need it in 3rd world countries? I still see a lot of hungry and sick people in refugee camps in Africa. Shouldn't that anti-gay money go to help those people instead? When a church gets political, they should have their tax exempt status revoke and IRS auditors on their asses collecting back taxes.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: spidey07
HELL NO!

Churches do more good than any other organization and giving to them and allowing them to help others should be encouraged, not punished.

Exactly. Atheists do not organize so they dont understand the nature of nonprofit charitable work churches do.

Scientology.

Did you just call scientologists atheists? They're as religious as Catholics.

Yea these religious people are funny. They only accept religions that believe what they believe and nothing else. Another religion comes up that is totally different and it's automatically a cult. These people really need to go over the bible again.