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In reply to the discussion: Does anyone else think it's time to tax the churches? [View all]ParkieDem
(494 posts)36. It's much, much more complicated than all of this.
First, this picture is bullshit. 3%? I doubt it. Churches hold wealth, but enough so we'd all have to pay just 3%? I doubt it.
Second, what are you going to tax? Churches operate as non-profits. They don't make "profits" like corporations. They take in money, sure, but taxing that money would be like taxing corporate revenue rather than corporate profits.
You could feasibly tax their property, but that's all done at the state and local level.
One way to do it would be to make it where contributions to churches would no longer be tax-deductible. If churches were smart, they'd tell their members to contribute to their charitable arms rather than to the church directly (or, more to the former, less to the latter).
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Just imagine the Mormon money working for them. We may all have to wear their underwear!
SugarShack
Dec 2012
#131
There was a church in my area that spent $45 million on a new building this year.
Initech
Dec 2012
#4
Are you are saying that nonprofits with buildings under a certain size should be exempt from tax?
Freddie Stubbs
Dec 2012
#166
UNICEF is an part of the UN. They have a big fancy building sitting on prime real estate
Freddie Stubbs
Dec 2012
#169
Your idea would hurt a lot of nonprofits with no religious affiliation, it would actually kill kids
pediatricmedic
Dec 2012
#74
Yes we can pick and choose - when some are acting as lobbying arms rather than non-profits
TBF
Dec 2012
#123
"If a non-profit is violating its status then the IRS can revoke its non-profit status" -
TBF
Dec 2012
#163
The amount of abuse of tax-exempt status by churches AND other kinds of non-profits is staggering
slackmaster
Dec 2012
#33
I think it is past time to check ALL the non-profits to make sure they are what they say they are.
Frustratedlady
Dec 2012
#34
The tax exemption is not Constitutional. The government should not be funding religions. nm
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#111
If they used their money to actually help the poor it would be one thing,
truebluegreen
Dec 2012
#56
Churches fall under 501(c)(3) along with certain other types of non-profit orgs
NYC Liberal
Dec 2012
#150
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Squinch
Dec 2012
#121
Separate church and state by not giving churches exceptional treatment under the law!
Coyotl
Dec 2012
#128
I think they should receive a tax exemption only to the extent they are doing charitable work
Major Nikon
Dec 2012
#146