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Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)
55. They should be no different than other non-profits
Tue Jul 1, 2014, 11:27 AM
Jul 2014

And there is a move afoot (troubling on one level, but still interesting) to require that all tax-exempt organization prove that they provide services to the public that are of a value equal to the amount of their tax exemption.

Bear in mind that even non-profit organizations (including churches) with paid staff DO pay payroll taxes like any other employer.


Being exempt from income tax is not a big deal; any entity (including a for-profit company) pays taxes on the difference between income and expenses. Most non-profits are strapped for cash (and have no income as a result), and even mega-churches have mega-operating expenses that would leave the "income" relatively modest.

The big thing is sales tax and property taxes.

And I think it's not asking too much to tell a tax exempt organization that, if you're getting $20,000 in abated taxes, that you prove that you're providing at least $20,000 in services to the community.

Should other tax exempt organizations lose tax exempt status as well? el_bryanto Jul 2014 #1
Which other organizations are you thinking of? Churches seem to me to often clearly act as legal Squinch Jul 2014 #2
Well like PETA for example, or Greenpeace. The Sierra club. nt el_bryanto Jul 2014 #4
I see your point. But I was raised in the Catholic Church, and the wealth and property and Squinch Jul 2014 #7
That could work. I could see supporting that. nt el_bryanto Jul 2014 #8
Support homegirl Jul 2014 #33
Hmmmm - no. Thanks for your suggestion though. el_bryanto Jul 2014 #35
this is the first sane idea i have seen on this topic ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2014 #11
So, only small organization can avoid the tax? joeglow3 Jul 2014 #14
Not necessarily small. An organization that brings in a heap more than some defined set of Squinch Jul 2014 #25
Most non-profits generate and spend large amounts of cash joeglow3 Jul 2014 #86
But those are all costs of doing business. Those aren't purchases of new property or investments Squinch Jul 2014 #93
I would go with all churches losing tax exempt status. LiberalFighter Jul 2014 #62
Or those charities act are kept as parts of the original organization and they act as deductions Squinch Jul 2014 #94
The charitable org would alreay be utilizing the deductions LiberalFighter Jul 2014 #111
Like this a lot. NCTraveler Jul 2014 #107
And, as with everyone else, let their charitable activities act as deductions. Squinch Jul 2014 #108
I made that connection. NCTraveler Jul 2014 #109
I get it. I have family members who were Squinch Jul 2014 #110
No. Those aren't religious organizations. Orrex Jul 2014 #16
So you would favor ending the tax exempt status of all churchs, regardless of whether they el_bryanto Jul 2014 #17
Yes, I would end the tax exempt status of all churches. Orrex Jul 2014 #19
OK - well I can't support that, unless you are going to end all non-profit organizations as well. el_bryanto Jul 2014 #22
Your support. MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #65
Well I suppose it isn't. We are still decades away from ending the tax-exempt status of churches el_bryanto Jul 2014 #68
I propose ending the tax-exempt status of churches on religious grounds Orrex Jul 2014 #80
I don't think I would support it in any case el_bryanto Jul 2014 #82
For me, the religious component is central Orrex Jul 2014 #85
If homegirl Jul 2014 #36
Companies pay taxes on income not on profit, I believe el_bryanto Jul 2014 #41
Yes they "pay" tax on taxable income LiberalFighter Jul 2014 #69
They're not violating the separation of church and state MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #31
There are a number of different arguments for why you should end the tax exempt status of religion el_bryanto Jul 2014 #34
You assume much MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #37
OK - So you are opposed to ending the tax-exempt status for churches? Or in favor of it? nt el_bryanto Jul 2014 #38
Did you even read my comment? MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #40
Yes I did el_bryanto Jul 2014 #42
It wasn't clear? MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #43
You know when I find that people haven't understood what I have written and ask clarifying questions el_bryanto Jul 2014 #45
I deal with a lot of trolls on another forum MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #46
Not sure about the Sierra club arikara Jul 2014 #100
If they stick their noses into political matters, yes. hobbit709 Jul 2014 #3
If a religion doesn't stick it's nose into political matters it should keep it's tax-exempt status el_bryanto Jul 2014 #6
Yes!-nt Anansi1171 Jul 2014 #10
NO Brainstormy Jul 2014 #26
Absolutely not! LiberalFighter Jul 2014 #71
What if a church runs a successful soup kitchen? nt el_bryanto Jul 2014 #72
It should be a separate entity LiberalFighter Jul 2014 #74
And if they don't want to separate the two, than they pay taxes on both, I take it? nt el_bryanto Jul 2014 #75
Yes! LiberalFighter Jul 2014 #77
OK fair enough el_bryanto Jul 2014 #78
The increase in atheists and those not church goers should make an impact. LiberalFighter Jul 2014 #84
what about where the two meet? ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2014 #12
There's taking a moral stance and taking a political stance. Not always the same thing. el_bryanto Jul 2014 #18
but saying they're right or wrong IS considered a political position ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2014 #20
Only if you believe that a church knows the best political solution to a problem el_bryanto Jul 2014 #21
i would wager most IN the church would say they have the correct solution ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2014 #24
Do they have the correct solution for what people should do? or do they the have the correct el_bryanto Jul 2014 #27
indeed... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2014 #28
Where then is the relevant and precise division between political and religious matters? LanternWaste Jul 2014 #73
So, when YarnAddict Jul 2014 #83
Tax exempt status sulphurdunn Jul 2014 #23
Actually, that sounds like the best way to go about it. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #54
Here is my problem ... aggiesal Jul 2014 #76
They can already do this dreamnightwind Jul 2014 #99
I completely agree with your last statement ... aggiesal Jul 2014 #101
Well, my point was dreamnightwind Jul 2014 #103
I understand ... aggiesal Jul 2014 #104
Yes, I agree - eom dreamnightwind Jul 2014 #105
The Yearly Cost of Religious Tax Exemptions: $71,000,000,000 Generic Other Jul 2014 #87
$71 billion dollars? could you please provide a citation? nt el_bryanto Jul 2014 #88
Sorry, I was afraid of being alerted on for citing the WashPo Generic Other Jul 2014 #91
Thanks, excellent info dreamnightwind Jul 2014 #98
Clearly the trumped-up IRS scandal canard shows that 501(4) shows that status should be... Anansi1171 Jul 2014 #5
DU rec... SidDithers Jul 2014 #9
Obviously sheep farming and fleecing is a for profit enterprise! on point Jul 2014 #13
Indeed. I have yet to read Gen. Smedly Butlers follow up- Anansi1171 Jul 2014 #15
"Tax Exempt Status" or "Tax Deductible Status" HenryWallace Jul 2014 #29
Not ALL churches become involved in politics. ColesCountyDem Jul 2014 #30
They have to spend a certain percent charity work. They get around that will missions to alfredo Jul 2014 #32
START BY ENDING THE OVER $1.5 TRILLION PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR ALL........... zwyziec Jul 2014 #39
This is the place to start. DURHAM D Jul 2014 #48
Wow. Just wow!-nt Anansi1171 Jul 2014 #53
Duke? n/t aggiesal Jul 2014 #81
^^^THIS^^^ Tom Ripley Jul 2014 #79
Sorry but I can't agree. I think non-profits including houses of worship should have tax exempt hrmjustin Jul 2014 #44
I agree with you in principle. Moostache Jul 2014 #49
Mega Churches do deserve more scrutiny. I heard you actually have to buy a ticket to get into some hrmjustin Jul 2014 #51
They should be no different than other non-profits Jeff In Milwaukee Jul 2014 #55
I think most houses of worship provide more than 20,000 dollars a year in services. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #58
Quite likely... Jeff In Milwaukee Jul 2014 #63
Most churches in this nation provide services to the poor. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #70
I agree.. Jeff In Milwaukee Jul 2014 #89
That is really shocking...they charge admission to that crap?!?!?!?!? Moostache Jul 2014 #57
Yes they bring in so much money a Sunday that they do need more scrutiny. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #59
Jesus wept. (nt) Moostache Jul 2014 #60
Indeed! hrmjustin Jul 2014 #61
If done, all those churches will disappear, and the oligarchs would never allow that. nt valerief Jul 2014 #47
Wow! 'Put all freedom of expression on equal footing' was my first thought this morning! freshwest Jul 2014 #50
No way, Churches are way too powerful and would dominate in politics if they were not tax exempt. dilby Jul 2014 #52
That's an interesting take on the subject Jeff In Milwaukee Jul 2014 #56
My point exactly MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #66
Huh never thought of it that way. Initech Jul 2014 #90
Absolutely not LittleBlue Jul 2014 #64
Data? Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #92
Looks like The Law is throwing their hat in the ring MynameisBlarney Jul 2014 #67
Making this part of the Democratic party platform would destroy the party onenote Jul 2014 #95
Asking churches to pay tax when they run golf courses, hotels and use Anansi1171 Jul 2014 #96
Churches should follow the same rules and oversight of other non-profits... Humanist_Activist Jul 2014 #97
...and corporations.... grahamhgreen Jul 2014 #102
Wouldn't they simply set themselves up as non-profits? nt. NCTraveler Jul 2014 #106
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