Close Topic Options

Even Religious Leaders Pay Taxes

I have spoken with so called, 'Religious Minded' people in the past and found them to be of the view that it is 'OK' to dodge the government in paying taxes. For some reason they feel that because they are engaged in 'helping' the government through their 'work' that they are somehow exempt form making monetary contributions towards society.

Pastor Gets 18 Months for Tax Non-Payment

AP - A pastor was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for failing to pay taxes on the roughly $1,000 a week that federal prosecutors say he skimmed from the collection plate.
Ref. https://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor.../clergy_charged

Taxes Pay Leaders Religious Even

If you are part of a christian religion (primarily catholic, protestant/pentecostal, LDS) then you really cant believe in tax exempt status for religious groups. Jesus said to give to Ceasar what is Ceasars. That is one of the few things he said on government that can be applied to today. In a religion centered on Christ, there can be no doubt that Christ would not condone tax exempt status. Besides, the Pastor was skimming when he should have been setting an example of how to manage your money, not how to steal money from the government.

Even Religious Leaders Pay Taxes Beliefs Religious General

Well I am not opposed to tax exemption with good reasons for religious groups, but that must be within the law. I am however against religious leaders who think that they can get away from paying taxes when they are supposed to. In Trinidad we used to have exemption, but then they changed it, there were obvious complaints, but they must pay, it is the law.

Taxes Pay Leaders Religious Even

Good point. Lots of organizations that provide services to people get tax exempt status. I do think that the organization, including non churches, should not try to get away with not paying taxes if they don't have the tax exempt status. I know a church I went to had to pay taxes for almost six months because they forgot to renew their tax exempt status. So all tithes and offering had taxes paid on them. Now there was a question as to what actually needed to be taxed. But to make sure they where completely blameless in everyones site, they paid taxes on every single penny that came into the church. It was a unanimous vote by the board of directors to just pay tax on everything.

Taxes Pay Leaders Religious Even

Religious organizations should enjoy the same tax-exempt status as any other nonprofit organization. To deny them this would be religious discrimination - in this case, because the government would be discriminating on the basis of organizations professing religous belief. However, individual members of those organizations, including clergy and top leadership, should pay taxes like anybody else. To pay taxes to support the government, which provides many services otherwise unavailable, is moral and correct. We may exercise our liberties to protest the amount of the payment, or how the government spends it, but that is a matter of process, not vigilanteism. Tax evasion by religious people is not civil disobedience - it is a federal crime and should be treated as such.