TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

No, because the county officials that decide property taxes already know there is no revenue coming in from churches and non-profits, and plan accordingly. Same can be said for federal and state income taxes.

 

Yes it does.

 

You are a genius. If the Non Profits paid their share in the original tabulatiom, the private owners share word be less.

Let me break it down for you. County A has 100 property owners including churches. All property is the same value. The county needs $1000 in property tax revenue per year to operate. The county has 2 churches. 98 private and 2 churches own equal value property.

If all 100 pay, the tax bill is $10 pet year.
If the 2 churches are exempt and only 98 pay, the tax bill is $10.21 per year.

 

Do you even know why churches and non profits are tax exempt?

 

Yes. Well aware of why they are. The area you probably want me to point out is charity and serving needs of the community. The vast majority of Churches no longer do that.

Of course there is the theory, which would not hold in modern courts, that taxing a church would be Congress making a law establishing religion or interfering with the free exercise.

 

My experience is tgat churches do do that

 

Very little. What percentage of gross income does your church spend on missions and on relief programs for people other than your own members and attendees?
Maybe around 10%. Even if it is 30% to 40% that is still terribly inefficient. Your better charities run around 90%+. Why should a church be tax exempt at 10%? If a private business donates 10% of its income it can be tax exempt? Why not? Your whole point is , wellllll.....pointless.

Most churches consume the vast majority of their money on :
1. Buildings
2. Salaries

 

Let me clarify the issue for you. The county knows the churches are not paying any property tax. This goes back how ever many decades or centuries the churches have been in the county. It's simply known that churches don't pay property taxes and so the other property owners will be taxed accordingly, or $10.21 each.

 

And what does salary expense have to do with tax exemption? Salaries are an expense and so are used to reduce any taxation on profits an entity might have. Since churches are non-profits to begin with, the amount spent on salaries is moot (as far as taxation goes.) Same thing goes with a private business. In fact, the more paid in salary, the less paid in corporate income taxes.

As for buildings, yes, there is a loss of property tax revenue to the county, but we've already been over that issue.

 

Do you really think I didn't know that? Captain Obvious

 

The argument is that churches should be exempt due to their charitable nature. My contention is that the vast majority are not very charitable. They consume most income on taxes and salaries.

 

First, why does it have to be other than own members. Are they not part of the community? Isnt the church working to disciple people they come across in the community and they become church members? Your personal standard on this is narrow. By design I assume.

 

Well, I wasn't making the "charitable nature" argument at all.

I would argue since churches rely on donations and (frequently) volunteer work they ought to be tax exempt. Churches don't have income from sales, at least it's not where they derive their income. Sure, some have bookstores and maybe charge for seminars but it's not like it's a going business concern selling stuff.

 

Not so fast. Let’s think about this more. There is a definite problem in modern society that might be rectifiable with this new development. In admitting the religious nature of their stand, perhaps they stand to lose the right to dominate the landscape in schools, in government, in science, in public places, etc.

 

Other than that they admit they deny the founder of their religion?

 

So, count your own. What is percentage? Still relatively low I am sure.

 

I don't. I think the Churches should be treated the same as anyone else.

Should this "church" be tax exempt? (Just for discussions sake)https://www.sisterlouisaschurch.com

 

I am quite sure that is what you want it to be.