Church tax exemption

[benddem]

Can someone tell me exactly what taxes churches are exempt from? The big hue and cry that churches are being forced to pay for things they are against has left me VERY angry. I'm an atheist and if Churches don't have to pay for streets, roads, snow removal, police...I am paying for them. Can someone let me know if I am right?

[hedgehog]

1. I was raised Catholic, taught religious ed and still sing in the choir.

I say, it's time to tax their asses! We Catholics are asked to give money day and night, but have no access whatsoever to the books. I suspect that most parishes barely break even, if that, but the Church needs to be on the same footing and just as accountable as other institutions that have capital reserves such as universities.

The latest fad here in New York State is for a parish to open a bookstore on church grounds - for example in a former classroom. If it's a commercial operation, open to the public, it needs to be taxed as a commercial establishment, IMHO!

The fact that non-profit groups are exempt from many local taxes can be a hardship on communities. That university may bring in a lot of jobs, but the streets still wear out!

[tsuki]

9. As a former, I can tell you that the Catholic

Church has its hands deep in the pockets of the taxpayer.

For every $3.00 they claim they spend with "Catholic" charities, $2.00 comes from the taxpayer. They collect that money without regard to whether the taxpayer is Sikh, Muslim, Wicca, Buddhist, LBGT, or Methodist. They have no superstitions that govern the collection of tax dollars. However, when they dole out the taxpayer generated tax dollars, they impose all of their superstitions claiming "Freedom of Religion".

We had a Catholic "hospital" imposed upon us by Tallahassee. A Catholic "hospital" with the rights of monopoly on a non-Catholic population without community input. And with full right to access taxpayer dollars without paying taxes.

Everyone is aware that they do not provide women's health care claiming "Freedom of Religion". A number of "emergency" clinics have opened up to fill that void.

But what has not happened, is an alternative to elderly care.

The greatest gift my Mother left me was a Living Will. I have no regrets. I followed it to the letter. But now, the Catholic Church says that the Living Will violates their "religious freedom". They will not abide by the Living Will. My Mother was not Catholic. They accepted federal taxpayer generated funds, Medicare and TriCare for Life, to care for her. But they said, fuck you bitch, our superstitions says you have got to suffer to be closer to God.

I got her out. And I did not accept the Catholic hospice. And I now reject the Catholic "church".

I really like the Italian solution. They tried this shit in Italy, and the Italian government turned around and said, looks like you owe us one billion Euros in property taxes.

GO ITALY!

[Ziggystrange]

2. Some answers

http://atheism.about.com/od/churchestaxexemptions/a/churchexemption.htm

Tax Exemptions Available to Churches
Tax Exemptions & Religion

By Austin Cline, About.com Guide

America’s tax laws are designed to favor non-profit and charitable institutions which presumably benefit the community. The buildings of private schools and universities, for example, are exempt from property taxes. Donations to charities like the Red Cross are tax deductible. Organizations which engage in medical or scientific research can take advantage of favorable tax laws. Environmental groups can raise tax-free funds by selling books.

Churches, however, tend to benefit the most from the various tax exemptions available, in particular because they qualify for many of them automatically, whereas non-religious groups have to go through a more complicated application and approval process. Non-religious groups also have to be more accountable for where their money goes, while churches, in order to avoid possibly excessive entanglements between church and state, do not have to submit financial disclosure statements.

Tax benefits for religious organizations fall into three general categories: tax-free donations, tax-free land and tax-free commercial enterprises. The first two are much easier to defend and arguments against permitting them are much weaker. The latter, however, often creates problems.

[benddem]

3. thanks

and thanks for the link!!!

[WCGreen]

4. They don't pay local property taxes.

I have to give kudos to the local Catholic Church for shutting down several inner city Parishes that have been all but vacant since the 1980's...

They have been sold to developers who will be required to pay taxes so the land will at least be taxed.

[sarcasmo]

5. If they taxed the church, legalized weed and then taxed weed

How many Billions would that rake in?

[mopinko]

6. in chicago, they got free water and sewer till rahm

put the axe to that.

[Mumble]

7. So, Holy water came from free water!

This probably forces the Catholic church to sell their holy water with a substantial price markup to cover their costs now.

[mopinko]

13. universities, too.

so catholic universities will all have to jack up the prices.

[tsuki]

8. The Family Christian Faith Church

of Panama City Beach, Florida, has refused to pay property tax on the 10,410-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bath parsonage for the Bishop. The property has tennis courts, a swimming pool and a four-car garage and is located miles from the church in a gated community.

His "church" is in foreclosure having borrowed 2.8 million and not having made a payment since October, 2010. He owes 2.9 million on the "church".

How is your blood pressure now?

Sorry, LOL.

[benddem]

10. this so demonstrates

the point I am writing about. A thousand thank you!!!!!

[sarcasmo]

11. Which is why I don't give money to religious organizations.

Many donations paid for that insane piece of property the bishop lives in.

[libtodeath]

12. The fundy ones should be taxed

for the damage on the population they have caused.