New IRS Rules Require Receipt for Church Donations

Darn. My habit is to reach in my billfold rather than write a check in church. That's going to have to change.

When I drop stuff off at the CCA, now I have to ask them for a reciept.

 

What next? Taxing money you take OUT of the plate as income?

 

(sarcasm)
Oh! but we live in a free country! This isn't a police state. Never will be!
(end sarcasm)

The IRS was created illegally and is fascist.
Better be sure you are ready for what's coming people. Complaining about it won't do. You had better be prayed up. More and more I am convinced of the errors of most eschatology in Christian circles. I think we are about to see some really appalling things in THIS country.

 

What could possibly be wrong with a law like this??

Surely Christians would never lie on their tax forms!?!?!


BTW, they are not just "out to get" us.

From the link above

Perhaps the title should read "New IRS Rules Require Receipt for all Charitable Donations."

 

All of this paperwork is another reason why I support switching to a national sales tax system, or a flatter income tax system with no deductions.

 

I wonder if people passing money through the church to get a reciept or people donating junk cars and wanting reciepts for new ones has caused the IRS to get a bit suspicious?

I know a church treasurer who face a lot of trouble in the church because someone wanted to give the pastor $8000. The benefactor wanted it to be donated to the church (so they'd get a receipt) and then given to the pastor as benevolence. The treasurer was unsure about this but felt she had to write the reciept. Of course, sparks really flew when she listed the $8000 as income for the pastor. After that, she was told to just give the "donation" to the pastor's wife and she'd take care of it.

I think things like this are all too common and are inviting scrutiny.

The ironic thing about the story above is that any IRS agent will tell you that you can give someone a gift up to $10,000 and its a tax break for both giver and reciever.

 

This is nothing new.. Our church in the 80s, that my dad pastored, was providing receipts for tithes and offerings... We had the envelopes in place also for cash donations...

Of course our treasurer worked for the IRS... That may have had something to do with it!!!!

OH, and HOW he hated Zaccheus jokes!!!!

 

Our Treasurer keeps account of who gives what and we each get a receipt after the years end. I got mine last week. Not nearly as much as I'd like to have given, but I had two spells of joblessness last year.

It makes sense to me that, if you want to claim the amount given on your taxes, you should get a receipt for it. Why should it be anything different? With everything else you must show proof.

Lagardo, I know of several similar stories. In one case, a man told the church before he donated the money, about $10,000, exactly who and where he wanted it sent. He obviously did it to avoid gift tax. The church told the man he could not dictate what the church spent the money on. The man left for another church which did what he wanted.

Another case, more recently, a man wanted to give the church $5,000 and, in turn, he wanted the church to give the money to his daughter for college. It was something about the government would match the funds if the church donated it to her. The church refused to skirt the law in such a way, so the man went to another church as well. Thankfully, that church refused to do it as well. That man actually spent time in prison several years ago for tax evasion. (He doesn't believe the government has a legal right to take taxes.)

It never ceases to amaze me how church people will skirt or break the law as often, or more so, as regular people. Maybe that's why the government seems to be seeking out laws against churches now. Maybe they figured out that many are hiding behind religion in order to cheat the government. It's really a shame.

 

Can you show documentation for this? I've never heard of it. I thought that any gift of over 600 dollars had to be reported to the IRS and taxes paid on it. I've also believed that in order for any gift to be tax deductible it had to be to a non profit organization or a 501c3.

 

Great idea! Everyone north of Houston pays a 50% tax. Everyone south pays a 20% flat tax . . . .

 

I think it's funny that at the bottom of this thread I see an ad for "Turbo Tax."

 

Sorry, I do not have the documentation on it. I was given a large sum a few years ago. The giver arranged it with a financial advisor. To my knowlege, they did not have to pay income tax on that amount. I was told that I did not have to report it. I confirmed this with my CPA at the time.

As I understand it, it must be a person-to-person gift, one time per year, up to $10,000.

I was told by my CPA at the time, that it was a popular tax shelter, to give a sum of money to family rather than have to pay the taxes on it.

 

As long as your cpa confirmed this . . . AND will testify on your behalf - you are safe.

I could see this from a Christian perspective in the case of a member giving a fellow member (an economically challenged member) a gift . . . other than that, I would be uncomfortable with the money going through the church.

 

On the upside, the churches will know who is supporting them and who is not.

 

Be very quiet about it.

 

Any CPA worth his/her salt will have a disclaimer on any paperwork that they are reporting only funds submitted by the person or business in question. They do not and cannot support anyone in a court of law and the tax department will not hear from them except as the person signs off teir rights of representation.

Cheers, and be responsible for all your finances,

Jim

 

Let me clarify, in my case, it had nothing to do with money going through a church. I would never allow money to go through the church, save an existing fund, to go from one person to another.

 

It was perfectly legal and a form 709 was filed by the giver. The IRS knows all about it. Besides, on my end, there has been more than enough paperwork filed with the IRS regarding how we spend the money (adoption). Its all good.

But to set aside your fears regarding this transaction...