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Should Religious Organizations Pay Property Taxes?
they should and in fact are required to if they betray the separation of church and state, such as telling their congregation who and what to vote for and bribing politicians. This is why an atheist group sued the IRS, which was not enforcing its own tax exempt code. You'd think a group as hated as the IRS wouldn't be afraid to tax churches that run afoul of the 1st amendment
i also have serious problem with the premium real estate taken up by churches. I noticed this in chicago, where the property tax is obscene yet here were all these churches operating tax free right next to homes and businesses the city foreclosed on
also there's the matter of fraud, such as the night club that avoided taxes by declaring itself a church
they should and in fact are required to if they betray the separation of church and state, such as telling their congregation who and what to vote for and bribing politicians. This is why an atheist group sued the IRS, which was not enforcing its own tax exempt code. You'd think a group as hated as the IRS wouldn't be afraid to tax churches that run afoul of the 1st amendment
i also have serious problem with the premium real estate taken up by churches. I noticed this in chicago, where the property tax is obscene yet here were all these churches operating tax free right next to homes and businesses the city foreclosed on
also there's the matter of fraud, such as the night club that avoided taxes by declaring itself a church
Should Religious Organizations Pay Property Taxes?
No. No one should pay property taxes.
I believe those with children enrolled in a government school should. Some have said that for-profit business should because education constitutes workforce training.
Yep. They should also pay income taxes, just like every other business/individual in the country. The "religious exemption" loophole in tax laws, although created for altruistic reasons, has created massive tax fraud since just about any group can claim to be a religion, and partake of these benefits.
Would it be justifiable for the state to seize all the real property owned by parents with children in public school, and business owners?
Because if the state has the right to take 2% every year for fifty years, it has the right to take it all at once.
Note that this only applies to property taxes, I'm not opposed to income and sales taxes.
So using that reasoning should we get rid of tax exempt status altogether I mean no tax exempt status for the various churches, no tax exempt status for the NRA, or the Clinton Foundation, or the American Red Cross or whatever else?
So using that reasoning should we get rid of tax exempt status altogether I mean no tax exempt status for the various churches, no tax exempt status for the NRA, or the Clinton Foundation, or the American Red Cross or whatever else?
Yep. They should also pay income taxes, just like every other business/individual in the country. The "religious exemption" loophole in tax laws, although created for altruistic reasons, has created massive tax fraud since just about any group can claim to be a religion, and partake of these benefits.
Very few abuse the tax exempt status and you think that means we should get rid of it altogether?
Should we also get rid of welfare and food stamps since there are people abusing those too?
i just explained a few of the common ways
See Post #13.
Post #13 said nothing about govt welfare programs
That's because the OP said nothing about govt welfare programs. Obviously, many such programs are poorly administrated allowing more fraud and abuse than necessary. But that isn't the topic of this thread.
The IRS did get sued and they promised to start enforcing their own laws on the condition that the lawsuit was dropped. They dropped the suit and the IRS is still not doing its job. Anyone surprised?
Possibly. There are a lot of "charitable" organizations that have been found to be fraudulently using contributions for the benefit of administrators, a lot of political foundations that may also be guilty of that, certainly the NRA, as a political organization is out only to help itself, as are many such organizations applying for, and too often getting, tax exempt status.
I believe the entire tax exempt statute should be completely overhauled, with strict profit restrictions, strict percentages that must be provably provided to their charitable works, annual audits required, and strict guidelines. As for religious organizations, they are some of the richest organizations on the planet. TV ministries have made their board members millionaires, the Catholic church alone sits on an absolute fortune in cash, holdings and property, and only a pittance of their wealth goes to help their parishioners. Why on earth should they be exempt from paying the same taxes that members of their flocks must pay?
Does that answer your question?
I'd be fine with that. But better yet, only allow tax exemption for demonstrable charitable work, not administrative costs. Apply it to everyone.
Possibly. There are a lot of "charitable" organizations that have been found to be fraudulently using contributions for the benefit of administrators, a lot of political foundations that may also be guilty of that, certainly the NRA, as a political organization is out only to help itself, as are many such organizations applying for, and too often getting, tax exempt status.
I believe the entire tax exempt statute should be completely overhauled, with strict profit restrictions, strict percentages that must be provably provided to their charitable works, annual audits required, and strict guidelines. As for religious organizations, they are some of the richest organizations on the planet. TV ministries have made their board members millionaires, the Catholic church alone sits on an absolute fortune in cash, holdings and property, and only a pittance of their wealth goes to help their parishioners. Why on earth should they be exempt from paying the same taxes that members of their flocks must pay?
Does that answer your question?