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Churches are exempt from property taxes in all 50 states. They also unlike other non profits do not even have to file a tax return and the parsonage exemption allows ministers to get free housing that exempt from taxes.
Do you believe they deserve special treatment beyond what other non profits get?
A minister must file the fair rental value as income.
Let me ask you this? Why are churches allowed to discriminate? Why is it that as you drive through almost any city or town in this country on any Sunday morning, why is it you come across the White church on a nice plot of land, plenty of parking, a huge building. Then you drive down the road a bit - maybe on the edge of town, there is the Black church; maybe nice too, but certainly not as nice as the other. Now drive around town a bit further until MAYBE you find an Asian church. Where are the Mosques? Maybe there is one in town - if it wasn't fire bombed - or if somehow it did get a building permit. Are there any Native Americans in mainstream churches?
I am so sorry if your church has discriminated, I've never heard of such a thing. Everyone is welcome at every church I've gone to.
I'm in SC too, our little church has black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern and multi-racial people of all ages. We have many interracial couples and several white families who adopted black children out of foster care.
People go to churches where they feel comfortable and at home. Sometimes they go where their family has always gone, which is why a church may be predominantly one race or another. But no one stands at the church door to keep people out.
A minister must file the fair rental value as income.
from the IRS:
A licensed, commissioned, or ordained minister may be able to exclude from income the fair rental value of a home (a parsonage) or a housing allowance provided as compensation for ministerial services performed as an employee. A minister who is furnished a parsonage may exclude from income the fair rental value of the parsonage, including utilities. However, the amount excluded can't be more than reasonable compensation for the minister's services.
A licensed, commissioned, or ordained minister may be able to exclude from income the fair rental value of a home (a parsonage) or a housing allowance provided as compensation for ministerial services performed as an employee. A minister who is furnished a parsonage may exclude from income the fair rental value of the parsonage, including utilities. However, the amount excluded can't be more than reasonable compensation for the minister's services.
I wasn't very precise there. They must include housing in their self employment taxes.
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Just whatever waiters' tip taxes are, which looks to be under 15%, and typically under 10%.
