Petition

[Jenny A]

I think tax exemptions from a legal perspective should be the same (if we're talking about income or profit tax on collective people) for charity associations or foundations, sure we know the church likes it's profit, but if their primary mission is to propagate christian faith we can't demand them to pay more taxes than a non profit organization... Of course if there are special tax benefits comparing the church with other religious institutions that's a different problem. In my country there is a treaty with the vatican that grants some exemptions to the catholic church, but then again this is accepted because the population is predominately catcholic so the State assumes it's important to benefit the church

As for the church influence that's a different matter

Certainly if they form a real charity, or a real educational institution, that part of the church should be tax exempt on the same basis as other charities and educational institutes.

[Dystopia]

I think tax exemptions from a legal perspective should be the same (if we're talking about income or profit tax on collective people) for charity associations or foundations, sure we know the church likes it's profit, but if their primary mission is to propagate christian faith we can't demand them to pay more taxes than a non profit organization... Of course if there are special tax benefits comparing the church with other religious institutions that's a different problem. In my country there is a treaty with the vatican that grants some exemptions to the catholic church, but then again this is accepted because the population is predominately catcholic so the State assumes it's important to benefit the church

As for the church influence that's a different matter

Certainly if they form a real charity, or a real educational institution, that part of the church should be tax exempt on the same basis as other charities and educational institutes.

The State shouldn't fund churches. I was just saying we can't tax churches like we tax corporations like nike or adidas or even small companies that search mainly for profit

[Jenny A]

Certainly if they form a real charity, or a real educational institution, that part of the church should be tax exempt on the same basis as other charities and educational institutes.

The State shouldn't fund churches. I was just saying we can't tax churches like we tax corporations like nike or adidas or even small companies that search mainly for profit

We tax all organizations here, profit or non-profit unless they fit some particular exception. Churches are one of those exceptions. Other exemptions include organizations that are charitable, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals. And even then, we tax the organization's unrelated business activity.

[rexbeccarox]

I really hate the way it's worded, and I don't think it's honest, so I don't think I can sign it. For example:

Gonna need some evidence for this statement:



And this is a strawman:


I would definitely sign a petition that was more simply worded... something like, "due to the United States' policy of separation of church and state, religions should not be funded by the state. We demand the immediate removal of tax-exempt status for churches."

Are you sure about that last one?

http://aattp.org/insane-bible-waving-rep...ion-video/

Insane Bible-Waving Republican Says ‘God’s Law’ Trumps Constitution (Video)

Not completely sure, but it's enough for me to not want to back it.

[Minimalist]

I was just saying we can't tax churches like we tax corporations like nike or adidas or even small companies that search mainly for profit

Not necessary. Removing the tax exempt status means that the donations people make to them are not deductible. Watch them scream bloody murder at that!!!!!

[Mystical]

Wait.. so you're saying people give them free money, then they turn around and get that money back in taxes too?

[JesusHChrist]

Wait.. so you're saying people give them free money, then they turn around and get that money back in taxes too?

No, it just means they don't have to pay taxes on the free money.

Also, church real estate is exempt from property taxes.

[Dystopia]

Wait.. so you're saying people give them free money, then they turn around and get that money back in taxes too?

No, it just means they don't have to pay taxes on the free money.

Also, church real estate is exempt from property taxes.

The day your people become less religiously oriented maybe the exemptions and benefits will fade away. Americans seem to like the church too much to care about abolishing this benefits, and even if there is freedom of religion there is always a predominant religion in society, like it or not.

[Minimalist]

Also, church real estate is exempt from property taxes.

That has nothing to do with the federal government.


Anyway, tax exempt donations allow the donor to get a deduction for the amount donated. In order to qualify for that status you must fall under one of the categories outlined in 26 USC 501 c 3

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/501

If you want a real scandal - the number of IRS agents who have to oversee that provision was about 1,600 when I was there and that included managers and staff. The actual grunt work was done by far fewer. It is effectively unregulated.

Remember Mitt Romney's tax returns? The story came out way too late to matter but by then he had already stepped on his own dick.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-29...tions.html

In 1997, Congress cracked down on a popular tax shelter that allowed rich people to take advantage of the exempt status of charities without actually giving away much money.

Individuals who had already set up these vehicles were allowed to keep them. That included Mitt Romney, then the chief executive officer of Bain Capital, who had just established such an arrangement in June 1996.

The charitable remainder unitrust, as it is known, is one of several strategies Romney has adopted over his career to reduce his tax bill. While Romney’s tax avoidance is legal and common among high-net-worth individuals, it has become an issue in the campaign. President Barack Obama attacked him in their second debate for paying “lower tax rates than somebody who makes a lot less.”

In this instance, Romney used the tax-exempt status of a charity -- the Mormon Church, according to a 2007 filing -- to defer taxes for more than 15 years. At the same time he is benefiting, the trust will probably leave the church with less than what current law requires, according to tax returns obtained by Bloomberg this month through a Freedom of Information Act request.

So, Harry Reid was right after all. You go, Harry.