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Thousands? Can you be more specific? I pay $7K a year for my average sized burb house. A house like Joels would seem to be in the 10's of thousands per year.
But if he pays the same as you or I would pay for the same house in the same location...then that it totally fair.
In Texas, one can fill out a form and have their name removed from the public records online. Joel's house has not been on the HCAD site for 2 years. IIRC, last time I looked he was paying 20+K in property taxes a year. IMO, the taxes were in line with property in the neighborhood. The appraisal district was not giving him any break.
I haven't read all of the responses yet, but I do believe that profits should be taxed.
There are a couple of businesses near me that are fronted as churches to get tax exempt status, when clearly that isn't their purpose.
One is a dance studio, but they call all of their dance classes "worship" sessions (from what I've heard, they pray before and after each class)- and are registered as a church, even though they pretty much operate like any other dance studio, but with prayer.
The other is a Martial Arts and Daycare business, which is also registered as a church. They operate their daycare and martial arts, then one afternoon a week, the family of the owner come in for 30 minutes of "church". It is seriously shady.
It is clear that these places have really stretched the definition of 'church' in order to operate for profit businesses with 'church' tax breaks.
So would you then say that businesses that had to close because they couldn't pay taxes were also targeted?
Are homeowners that have houses that are too large...are they being targeted?
No, and if you read carefully, you will see that I did not say they were targeted, but that's what the perception could be, and politicians don't want negative perceptions.
Your comparisons are not apples and oranges, because businesses DO pay taxes already, people DO pay taxes on their homes already.
A church that has been operating for 150 years on the assumption that they are not subject to property tax that suddenly gets whacked with a $25K or $30K tax bill (I'm guessing the property is about two acres and estimating that's approximately what the tax bill would be) is a different scenario. The entire annual budget is less than $80K.
Quote:
Originally Posted by craigiri
[b]As many of us have agreed, there would be some exemption(s) ideally, and if your church was truthfully as poor and small as you make out, chances are you'd have to pay little or nothing.
I don't know of any situations where there are property tax exemptions for lack of income, but I could be wrong.
Quote:
Originally Posted by craigiri
[b]On the other hand, the town in NJ where I lived for 26 is now largely centered around a couple BIG churches. To say these are wealthy is an understatement (we're taking Tesla model S's, etc.). Not only are they big, but one in particular has installed their "flock" into local...then county, then state...government. They also tie in quite heavily with Lockheed Martin, the biggest employers in the area.
One of the churches is now probably shrinking as they have had a couple problems. First a member was caught starving their children (to heal them, I guess) - but the church stood behind the couple. Now their Dear Leader has been caught at sex crimes.
You can imagine how someone who doesn't go to church and pays the taxes for these people can feel a little...slighted.
I have no disagreement whatsoever with going after churches that hide behind the law to make money or conduct criminal activity or political favor. I don't want to pay taxes for them, either.
I haven't read all of the responses yet, but I do believe that profits should be taxed.
There are a couple of businesses near me that are fronted as churches to get tax exempt status, when clearly that isn't their purpose.
One is a dance studio, but they call all of their dance classes "worship" sessions (from what I've heard, they pray before and after each class)- and are registered as a church, even though they pretty much operate like any other dance studio, but with prayer.
The other is a Martial Arts and Daycare business, which is also registered as a church. They operate their daycare and martial arts, then one afternoon a week, the family of the owner come in for 30 minutes of "church". It is seriously shady.
It is clear that these places have really stretched the definition of 'church' in order to operate for profit businesses with 'church' tax breaks.
I haven't read all of the responses yet, but I do believe that profits should be taxed.
There are a couple of businesses near me that are fronted as churches to get tax exempt status, when clearly that isn't their purpose.
One is a dance studio, but they call all of their dance classes "worship" sessions (from what I've heard, they pray before and after each class)- and are registered as a church, even though they pretty much operate like any other dance studio, but with prayer.
The other is a Martial Arts and Daycare business, which is also registered as a church. They operate their daycare and martial arts, then one afternoon a week, the family of the owner come in for 30 minutes of "church". It is seriously shady.
It is clear that these places have really stretched the definition of 'church' in order to operate for profit businesses with 'church' tax breaks.
And that is clearly tax evasion and, if they file federal returns, will eventually be audited.
As a note, I thought those scams were pretty much shut down. I knew a couple guys that tried that years ago who ended up vacationing in Club Fed.
The church? Which church? There is no monolithic church that supports a straight-ticket republican or conservative agenda. The single most powerful church - the Catholic church - opposes a lot of the republican agenda.
And that is clearly tax evasion and, if they file federal returns, will eventually be audited.
As a note, I thought those scams were pretty much shut down. I knew a couple guys that tried that years ago who ended up vacationing in Club Fed.
I live in an area with a seemingly high concentration of "strip mall churches", which is likely the reason they've been able to fly under the radar the past few years.
It will be interesting to see if things eventually do catch up with them.
There is a dry town in SE Texas that the city changed the ordinances for no new churches within the city. Their lack of paying property taxes hurt the ability for the town to provide services in the city. And this is a very conservative town.
As far as income taxes go they could register as a non profit and the federal income tax situation would be the same. You would have to remove the existence of non profits or change the laws so churches would no longer be non profit.
What we should look at too are private schools and universities which are often flush with cash and do not pay property taxes.
That being said we should change the laws and make churches pay taxes like a corporation. Also end the non profit property tax loophole for churches and other non profits.
And the argument that many small churches would not survive if they were taxed? So be it. If they have to survive on public assistance via tax dollars they should not exist.
I live in an area with a seemingly high concentration of "strip mall churches", which is likely the reason they've been able to fly under the radar the past few years.
It will be interesting to see if things eventually do catch up with them.
I see them too. But how often do you hear about churches being busted for tax fraud or audited? They have minimal tax filing requirements and seem to get a pass.
You can organize a church and not even need to get a 501-C3 designation from the IRS and receive tax deductable donations legally.
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