Tax exemption for religious organizations: Difference between revisions

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Since some churches have violated the conditions of tax exemption, they should have this status removed. This would provide a major source of tax revenue.
Since some churches have violated the conditions of tax exemption, they should have this status removed. This would provide a major source of tax revenue.
==For individuals==
{{wikipedia|Render unto Caesar}}
A family in Tasmania refused to pay income tax for several years saying that "The Commonwealth of Australia has not been granted the power of ownership because that is vested in almighty God." <ref>[https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/judge-orders-tasmanian-family-to-pay-23-million-tax-after-they-refused-citing-gods-will/news-story/74d55622d07b69d14b127e7143514438?from=htc_rss Judge orders Tasmanian family to pay $2.3 million tax after they refused, citing ‘God’s will’]</ref> A judge rejected this argument quoting "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s." {{Bible|Matthew 22:21}}


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 02:40, 18 July 2019

Many governments have enacted lower tax arrangements or tax exemption for religious organizations. Often, this falls under the umbrella of encouraging the activities of charitable or not-for-profit groups. These tax benefits often come with conditions which are violated or abused by some churches. Of course, religious organizations still use public services such as roads, policing, fire protection and rubbish collection which as paid for by everyone else via taxation.

United Kingdom[edit]

The main way that religious groups gain tax exemption in the UK is to become a legally recognized charity. In UK law, a charity must operate for the "public benefit". However, religion arguably causes as much harm as good. There are 32,735 religious charities in the UK. [1]

In 1999, the Church of Scientology was refused charitable status because there was no "public benefit arising out of the practice of Scientology". However, in 2000 it did gain "not for profit" status which provides limited tax exemption.

Strictly limiting access to religious buildings tends to undermine an organization's "public benefit" argument. This issue was key in a dispute over property taxes being applied to certain Mormon churches with extremely restrictive access policies. Private chapels in the Church of England are also taxed in the same manner. [2]

In 2015, many Plymouth Brethren churches gained charitable status. The public benefit of their organizations is questionable because they do not practice public worship and follow a doctrine of separation. [1] To maintain their charitable status, signs are being introduced telling outsiders how they may attend the church, which is normally closed to visitors without prior arrangement.

"We should ensure that a gospel hall in every locality displays prominently outside its premises a sign indicating how persons from outside the community (including former Brethren) can attend a hall for worship. [3]"

United States[edit]

"And here’s the crux of it all, here’s the grand bargain: the Founding Fathers said to the Church, in essence, “you are prohibited from turning this government into a theocracy mirroring your beliefs and values. But we will be fair, and we will give you something profound in return. Since you will have no voice in the government other than the rights of your congregation members to vote as they will, you will not have to pay any taxes to support a system whose laws may violate or be at odds with your beliefs.” [4]"

In the US, Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations are prohibited from "participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office". [5] Some Christian churches have violated this regulation by openly endorsing individual politicians. In recent years, the IRS has ignored the politicisation of religion but continued to enforce the rules against non-religious tax exempt groups. [6][7]

"Now, tax exemptions are really just another name for a public subsidy. If I don't pay my share of public expenditure on roads, law enforcement, defense and so on, the difference has to come from you. And it is for precisely this reason that the law forbids religious organizations, like all similar tax-exempt groups, from direct involvement in electioneering. [6]"

Since some churches have violated the conditions of tax exemption, they should have this status removed. This would provide a major source of tax revenue.

For individuals[edit]

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For more information, see the Wikipedia article:

A family in Tasmania refused to pay income tax for several years saying that "The Commonwealth of Australia has not been granted the power of ownership because that is vested in almighty God." [8] A judge rejected this argument quoting "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s." Matthew 22:21 Bible-icon.png

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]