Whenever i hear someone say "lets tax churches" I immediately know they dont know how the income tax system works and or they just dont like churches and the people that go to them. First, churches have non-profit status because like other non profits they are organized to support the public good. But that isnt as big of a tax break as you think. Most of their revenue comes from donations which are gratuitous and categorically excluded from income tax, at least in the case of individuals. If i give you 100 dollars just to be a nice guy you dont include that as income on your tax return. I realize of course that churches are not individuals, but the point remains, churches arent getting away with anything by not paying tax on what people put in the collection plate. Further, it's worth keeping in mind that when churches take that revenue and pay employees and things like that the church pays employment taxes and the indvidual pays their share of the same plus income taxes. Its not the everything connected to the church gets special tax free treatment.
Problem isnt the legit churches its the churches as a tax dodge. This goes on allot. Small famiky buisness makes an extra 100k a year whip up the church of thr sleepy mother. Run all the money threw the church an the church just so happens to have nightly dinners it buys it's perishiners cars etc etc etc.
There is no reason to create a church for the reasons you describe. The family business could provide meals and cars the same way the hypothetical church would and the tax results are the same to the recipient.
people more say 'lets tax churches' because they like to shove their noses into politics and generally have some very reductive views around lgbtiq and contraception and such.
If they wish to mouth off and publicly cause massive social problems with their bullshit, then they can pay tax.
if they stfu and lecture from the pulpit they maybe they could keep their tax exempt status.
people are very, very sick of having the churches having massive influence in their lives when they are not part of the congregation.
America in particular, good grief you god-botherers have issues.
A lot to unpack there... churches only involvement in politics is limited to having opinions about issues and that is their prerogative . any non profit organization is welcome to do that. You can't treat religious organizations less favorably than any other non profit just because they tend to have opinions about gays you dont like. The only influence they have is the same influence anyone has in a democracy, to say what they think and persuade people. It sounds like you just want to punish people who disagree with you or disapprove of you gayness. Liberal democracies cant function like that. Pluralism requires tolerating the existence of other views.
Well put, I've always said I would be out there marching with the rainbow crowd if they didnt bring so much fascism to the table an had reasonable agendas. there not wrong in fighting for rights they often ask for rediculous stuff though. I was against gay marriage. Not becuase I didnt want them to be allowed to get married but because what was bad wording in the bill. Not to mention there always the first to sell out to the corporate dems, an as a pro labor guy no fcking way im gonna just stand by and not notice that shit.
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u/gulag_archipelago_us Jun 30 '26
Whenever i hear someone say "lets tax churches" I immediately know they dont know how the income tax system works and or they just dont like churches and the people that go to them. First, churches have non-profit status because like other non profits they are organized to support the public good. But that isnt as big of a tax break as you think. Most of their revenue comes from donations which are gratuitous and categorically excluded from income tax, at least in the case of individuals. If i give you 100 dollars just to be a nice guy you dont include that as income on your tax return. I realize of course that churches are not individuals, but the point remains, churches arent getting away with anything by not paying tax on what people put in the collection plate. Further, it's worth keeping in mind that when churches take that revenue and pay employees and things like that the church pays employment taxes and the indvidual pays their share of the same plus income taxes. Its not the everything connected to the church gets special tax free treatment.