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Zeitghost

(3,796 posts)
29. It says right in your post
Sun Jul 24, 2022, 08:19 PM
Jul 2022

"operated exclusively for religious, educational, scientific or other charitable purposes;"

You seem to have stopped reading a bit short in the sentence.

That's a pretty broad umbrella. My wife, a wine maker, belongs to a professional association that operates as a non-profit. Vendors donate and the organizations put on dinners where presentations are given and they network around the dinner table eating and drinking good wine. The organizations mission is to facilitate the exchange of information and contribute to professional development and education of wine makers in the region it serves.

It's essentially a bunch of long time friends throwing dinner parties and talking shop... And if they could come up with the funds, they could throw in "educational" trips to France or New Zealand or any number of amazing locations, plenty of similar groups do.

I point these things out not to defend them but to explain how the system works, non-profits aren't just soup kitchens and animal rescues and that's a big part of why it's not nearly as simple as "tax the churches". The rules are already incredibly detailed and still allow for more or less anything short of outright scams and fully for profit endeavors.

Yeah but it's their money. underpants Jul 2022 #1
Yeah, but it's our money when they enjoy federal and State non-profit tax exemption benefits, KPN Jul 2022 #12
Ever notice how many churches there are in Brooklyn. But at least they're there's a lot of diversity Walleye Jul 2022 #2
I've long advocated taxing churches. KentuckyWoman Jul 2022 #3
I agree. That would at least limit tax exemption to the actual tax KPN Jul 2022 #13
Tax them on what? Zeitghost Jul 2022 #20
No other charity could just reinvest all their donations back into their organization Shermann Jul 2022 #22
Thats exactly what most charities do. Zeitghost Jul 2022 #23
Well, I don't see a youth center at every mile marker Shermann Jul 2022 #24
We make judgement calls based on our gut feeling, the IRS does not Zeitghost Jul 2022 #26
No, the IRS has special tax rules just for churches Shermann Jul 2022 #28
It says right in your post Zeitghost Jul 2022 #29
If wine tasting charities brought in over 100 billion, I'm sure the IRS would take a second look Shermann Jul 2022 #30
It's not at all Zeitghost Jul 2022 #31
Sure it can be Shermann Jul 2022 #32
"The only thing blocking that from going through is the indoctrinated portion of the electorate." Zeitghost Jul 2022 #33
So, you've moved on from false equivalencies to dubious Constitutional references Shermann Jul 2022 #34
Like it or not Zeitghost Jul 2022 #35
SCOTUS would not be onboard Shermann Jul 2022 #37
Bravo Brenda Jul 2022 #38
Yes. KentuckyWoman Jul 2022 #40
Churches are free entities. live love laugh Jul 2022 #4
Tax the churches Sky Jewels Jul 2022 #5
Walk me through taxing churches like businesses: Zeitghost Jul 2022 #21
Any money spent on private jets taxed at 50% Mysterian Jul 2022 #25
And this rule would apply to all charaties Zeitghost Jul 2022 #27
I Say Yes ProfessorGAC Jul 2022 #36
I understand your reasoning Zeitghost Jul 2022 #39
Tax the churches. It's way overdue. flying_wahini Jul 2022 #6
There you go again talking me into forming a church... Hugin Jul 2022 #7
I heard there was a commandment-- lastlib Jul 2022 #17
Probably. Hugin Jul 2022 #18
People will spend their money however Sympthsical Jul 2022 #8
Generally you can't deduct your expenses as a wine consumer Shermann Jul 2022 #11
Church property is probably the weakest example, though Sympthsical Jul 2022 #14
And for those who choose to spend on churches, those pretax expenses are tax deductible to boot. KPN Jul 2022 #15
Unless you itemize, Igel Jul 2022 #19
Getting butts in pews is a serious problem. I've been told. czarjak Jul 2022 #9
We have a Johnny come lately church in Texas called 'Cowboy churches". flying_wahini Jul 2022 #10
That one has a manure smell to it Shermann Jul 2022 #16
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