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There is a clear difference between: a) not being assessed an income tax as an exempt organization and b) not owing income tax as an individual due to credits and deductions.
OK fine, I was responding to the guy saying that churches should have to pay taxes as a condition of voicing political opinion.
Anyway,
There is said to be an old Arabian proverb: "If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow." This expression is especially pertinent in the tax exemption context. Churches are tax exempt under the principle that there is no surer way to destroy the free exercise of religion than to tax it. If the government is allowed to tax churches (or to condition a tax exemption on a church refraining from the free exercise of religion), the camel's nose is under the tent, and its body is sure to follow. It's the understanding of the U.S. Supreme Court too.
In its 1970 opinion in Walz vs. Tax Commission of the City of New York, the high court stated that a tax exemption for churches "creates only a minimal and remote involvement between church and state and far less than taxation of churches. [An exemption] restricts the fiscal relationship between church and state, and tends to complement and reinforce the desired separation insulating each from the other." The Supreme Court also said that "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Taxing churches breaks down the healthy separation of church and state and leads to the destruction of the free exercise of religion.
Millions of American citizens attempt to influence politics.
And they aren't granted tax exempt status for that privilege.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yooperkat
There is said to be an old Arabian proverb: "If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow." This expression is especially pertinent in the tax exemption context. Churches are tax exempt under the principle that there is no surer way to destroy the free exercise of religion than to tax it. If the government is allowed to tax churches (or to condition a tax exemption on a church refraining from the free exercise of religion), the camel's nose is under the tent, and its body is sure to follow. It's the understanding of the U.S. Supreme Court too.
In its 1970 opinion in Walz vs. Tax Commission of the City of New York, the high court stated that a tax exemption for churches "creates only a minimal and remote involvement between church and state and far less than taxation of churches. [An exemption] restricts the fiscal relationship between church and state, and tends to complement and reinforce the desired separation insulating each from the other." The Supreme Court also said that "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Taxing churches breaks down the healthy separation of church and state and leads to the destruction of the free exercise of religion.
You didn't write this, yet you keep posting it as if you did. That's called plagiarism. Credit your source.
It's not just the church that doesn't pay taxes it's non-profits as long as they file for tax exemption. Until tax exemption laws are gone there is nothing anyone can do.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yooperkat
Millions of American citizens attempt to influence politics.
Half of Americans don't pay any Federal Income Taxes. Should they have to pay Federal Income Taxes to enjoy the privilege of voting?
If they don't pay - they can't vote.
There is said to be an old Arabian proverb: "If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow." This expression is especially pertinent in the tax exemption context. Churches are tax exempt under the principle that there is no surer way to destroy the free exercise of religion than to tax it. If the government is allowed to tax churches (or to condition a tax exemption on a church refraining from the free exercise of religion), the camel's nose is under the tent, and its body is sure to follow. It's the understanding of the U.S. Supreme Court too.
In its 1970 opinion in Walz vs. Tax Commission of the City of New York, the high court stated that a tax exemption for churches "creates only a minimal and remote involvement between church and state and far less than taxation of churches. [An exemption] restricts the fiscal relationship between church and state, and tends to complement and reinforce the desired separation insulating each from the other." The Supreme Court also said that "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Taxing churches breaks down the healthy separation of church and state and leads to the destruction of the free exercise of religion.
Cry all you want - you can't tax churches.
WHERE does the court comment on what degree of involvement is created between church and state when the the church enters the political arena?
Unless you can point to that your cite is irrelevant in the context of whether churches should be taxed for the privilege of involving themselves in politics.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,330 posts, read 54,400,252 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tluv00
It's not just the church that doesn't pay taxes it's non-profits as long as they file for tax exemption. Until tax exemption laws are gone there is nothing anyone can do.
Are non-profits exempt from property taxes or only income taxes?
Are non-profits exempt from property taxes or only income taxes?
501(c)3 charitable non-profit organizations are exempt from income tax, property tax and sales tax. Don't know for sure about other, smaller taxes in lower jurisdictions.
There are other types of tax exempt orgs, but all of the ones we've been discussing in this thread (religious and charities) are usually 501(c)3.
Those churches that stick to their job of teaching religion and fellowship should remain tax free, those that run businesses and get involved in politics should pay their taxes and lose their tax excempt status. Really simply.
Planned Parenthood should stick to their job of providing reproductive services and education and remain tax free. If they get involved in politics should pay their taxes and lose their tax excempt status. Really simply.
I think all churches should pay taxes for municipal services (typically property taxes) as well appropriate business taxes on any commercial activities. Donations and estate income should be exempt from taxation. All churches should refrain from political activity because participation in the mundane eliminates the sanctity of their activities and reduces them to just another social and political entity.
Churches aren't taxed because our government officials find it inconvenient to separate state and religion.
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