Lib universities, paying new price

[George Hatch]

Nonsense. Churches buy all sorts of taxable items, employees pay SS and income tax on their income. People who mow the church lawn pay taxes on that income, the equipment they own, and any employee's salary. The only tax relief they get is property taxes. Many non-profits also have tax benefits, and elderly and in some states, veterans get tax breaks. My state has a homestead exemption in addition to locking taxes down for property owners 65 and older. NY has the STAR tax relief program for owner-occupied homes.

Churches are not "tax free". They pay sales taxes on it all and the buildings are built by taxed contractors with taxable employees. Meanwhile Fern pays illegals to do cheap work and doesn't expect them to pay taxes or declare the income, and he ****ed sure isn't going to pay it for them.

Churches that operate schools or other commercial operations are not exempt from property taxes in my state.

 

[Cob]

Million Dollar Homes Become Status Symbols of Televangelists and Pastors – MinistryWatch

ministrywatch.com

 

[Cob]

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Some Texas religious leaders live in luxurious homes– tax-free

Clergy members can avoid paying taxes on multimillion-dollar estates, thanks to an obscure state law.

www.texasstandard.org

So what? If they are violating tax laws, punish them. Ken Copeland has been investigated for years by the IRS. They can write the rules to rein in such. Anyone supporting a TV preacher are punishing themselves. But it is still the truth that the larger churches (not the TV MegaChurch unassociated with a group) Catholics, Baptist, Mormon, Mennonites, Amish, Quakers are keeping the faith and providing billions in aid that would otherwise have to be provided by government.

 

[glenn walker]

Why should MY tax dollars pay for your church's pet project....
Do you like YOUR tax dollars paying for Harvard's pet projects....

Once everyone/company/institution/entity/etc pays taxes....
Then what they give to others is truly "CHARITY"....

No tax deductible donations to anyone or any institutions. If I'm a believer my donation is going to be made with or without it being deductible.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

If I'm a believer my donation is going to be made with or without it being deductible.

Exactly, considering my net income I actually give above tithing 10% but my standard deduction is still the same. Itemizing worked only when I had a much higher net taxable income.

 

[ucbruin]

The problem is that in their virtue signaling and pretending they are saving....

Speaking about virtue signaling....

 

[glenn walker]

Exactly, considering my net income I actually give above tithing 10% but my standard deduction is still the same. Itemizing worked only when I had a much higher net taxable income.

We don't want the Federal govt in our business so we are not a 501 C or a church and we don't take money from anyone we don't know. But once you take big donations from folk's getting deductions they own you. The intension was good but it became corrupted. We prefer not to take money from Judas types. But many don't give and that's okay too because that's between them and their maker. Others will donate labor to repair a widows roof or take them shopping.

 

[Fernando]

Churches that operate schools or other commercial operations are not exempt from property taxes in my state.

Lost of tax revenues.
Also are nonprofits exempt from property taxes?

 

[Mark K]

Churches that operate schools or other commercial operations are not exempt from property taxes in my state.

Not here in the middle of the bible belt. Very large, private church/schools that collect significant tuition from parents pay no property taxes in this state.

Not that different than farmers paying next to nothing compared to their property values so I guess its all in who you know and who (politicians) you buy. But I suppose that's another issue. In this state, farming is considered a religion, at least to the big farmers.