Should Churches Pay Taxes? - Printable Version

Should Churches Pay Taxes? - Printable Version

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RE: Should Churches Pay Taxes? - Tr@ck3d - 12-27-2013

In my opinion they should, everyone else pays taxes, so why shouldnt they?

RE: Should Churches Pay Taxes? - Tersuss - 02-18-2014

Yes I believe that they should be taxed, they are buildings in cities of countries around the world, they are just a building for a specific religious sect, they are not in and of themselves embassies, they hold all sorts of conventions and so on to raise money for their own churches and so on, to me I would classify that as an income, for example, the churches in America, they are American owned, they do not belong to the papal states, the very idea that they get away with taxes is just insulting, for as we have to lose money in our income and pay all manner of taxes the fact that America in and of itself could earn another $71 billion a year is just sickening, I mean just think of all the things that could be done with that money, unemployment would and could be eradicated, money could be put into medical and pharmaceutical research, into hospitals and schools and so forth, basically things much more important than a religious building.

RE: Should Churches Pay Taxes? - pandandesign - 02-18-2014

It depends on whether or not they will make profits. I think some churches should pay tax because they receive a lot of money, which they're probably more about profits than helping people and getting them into religious beliefs.

RE: Should Churches Pay Taxes? - Singularity - 02-22-2014

(02-19-2014, 01:40 AM)Esperahol Wrote: No. For one I don't any way believe that number reported - and for another if we are going to be recuperating funds through taxes then all those wonderful loopholes businesses are given should be shut first. Further more many churches are barely able to support themselves as is and subjecting them to taxes just because there are mega churches is a rather sorry practices. Besides which many churches due to charitable acts fall under the charity tab and therefore are as tax exempt as any other non-profit organization.

Survival of the fittest. There are already too many churches and whichever ones don't survive can be turned into something beneficial for everybody.

Please share these "wonderful loopholes businesses"

RE: Should Churches Pay Taxes? - thomas pendrake - 02-23-2014

(12-24-2013, 01:06 AM)Leader Wrote: There is no reason why churches shouldn't pay taxes. If they want a place in our country, they must abide by the rules.

The power to tax is the power to destroy, according to many court decisions. If you don't believe in the separation of church and state, then I can understand that you could believe in taxing churches. Of course, then we can have a state mandated church and a compulsory church tax. Perhaps we should start teaching history and civics in school again.

RE: Should Churches Pay Taxes? - Leader - 02-23-2014

(02-23-2014, 03:45 AM)thomas pendrake Wrote: The power to tax is the power to destroy, according to many court decisions. If you don't believe in the separation of church and state, then I can understand that you could believe in taxing churches. Of course, then we can have a state mandated church and a compulsory church tax. Perhaps we should start teaching history and civics in school again.

I believe in separation of church and state, but that doesn't mean I believe churches should be exempt from taxes. In fact, it's the exact opposite. If churches were a part of the government, then they would be tax-free. If they aren't a part of the government, they should be taxed.

RE: Should Churches Pay Taxes? - thomas pendrake - 02-23-2014

(02-23-2014, 03:53 AM)Leader Wrote: I believe in separation of church and state, but that doesn't mean I believe churches should be exempt from taxes. In fact, it's the exact opposite. If churches were a part of the government, then they would be tax-free. If they aren't a part of the government, they should be taxed.

As I said in a different thread, young people today are rather unaware of history. State churches don't pay taxes, they collect them. And they tell you what you have to believe. The reason that churches don't pay taxes in America, as I mentioned above,is that the power to tax is the power to destroy. That is not my opinion, it is the opinion of the courts. I learned that in the eighth grade. If you believe that a state, such as Arizona or Texas, should be able to outlaw unpopular churches and force you to attend one chosen by the voters, then tax churches. If you think that all churches are evil and should be eradicated, then I can understand that you think churches should be taxed. Before the Constitution, most states had State Churches and taxed all the others, and frequently persecuted members.

(12-24-2013, 12:45 AM)Singularity Wrote:

Hello HF.

I have a question for you.
Should Churches pay taxes?

Here is an article about how much money we are losing from
church tax exemption.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/06/16/the-yearly-cost-of-religious-tax-exemptions-71000000000/

$71 billion every year just in the united states..
That is crazy!

Personally I believe that they should be taxed.
It would make things a whole lot easier on countries,
governments and we could put the money to lets say something useful
like getting us out of debt or science?

Lets see what HF thinks.

Did you mean that getting out of Science is useful? Perhaps you should look at the hospitals and other charities that most churches support. Many European countries collect taxes from church members and forward them to the churches, but only for approved churches. Some countries collect taxes on unapproved churches.