Should churches pay taxes?

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I don't know about every country in the world, but I know that it is common for churches to not pay taxes.
How do you regard this issue?

Maybe everyone shouldn't pay taxes?

They should pay like all the rest of us.

Si.

They have the same right as any other charity not to pay taxes. The minister will obviously have to pay tax on his income.

I used to think churches should not pay taxes, per our original founding father's ideas. It seemed like a good idea: The government wouldn't try to involve themselves with religion and religion would be separate from government. A mutual "hands off" policy.

But for a while now I've thought religions should pay taxes like everyone else. This because of church's/religion's insistence in involving themselves in politics at all levels. It completely ruins the "separation of church and state" idea and allows church participation in secular government while reserving all church matters to only church officials and church laws.

I believe, if they insist on meddling in secular matters, they should pay taxes, just like the rest of us mere mortals.

Yes I think so.

I also think the legal definition of charity is stretched, Fee paying schools which cost significantly more than going to university get charity status in England.

Maybe there is the point he education should get tax relief.

I don't think that any religion or cultural group should get special treatment.

How is separation of church an state consistent with churches not paying tax? I think you may have misunderstood the concept of your forefathers. On the contrary.

The point of separation of church an state in that the state doesn't endorse theistic rules or interfere with religious matters. This Principle has been widely breached especially since the cold war.

i think churches should be taxed. I don't see why they should count as a charity. According to the reading I have done, 90% of donations to churches go to running the church itself. Then the other 10% might make it's way a charitable cause. I don't see where 10% is enough to qualify as a charity and if it is, then I should count a a charity too.

This is all very uncritical.

What taxes are we talking about? Income taxes, property taxes or consumption taxes?

On income, congregations are, typcially, not-for-profit corporations and registered charities. Why should one kind of not-for-profit organization pay tax on it's operating surplus, while the rest do not? Religious organizations should be treated no differently than schools, libraries, community centres, museums and all the other non-profit organizations out there.

On consumption, religious organizations DO pay tax in most jurisdictions. If you pay for goods or services, then sales taxes are added on whether you are a private individual, a non-profit or a business corporation.

Only in the area of property do I see a disconnect. It should be patently clear that buildings owned by congregations but used for secular purposes (e.g. schools, hospitals, shelters and the like) do not qualify for a religious exemption from tax. Clergy residences are in a gray area, but typically would not qualify either (at least in this country). Purely religious structures, such as churches, mosques, synagogues and missions normally would. I really see no reason why this should be, but the actual impact on municipal revenue is likely negligible.

Or perhaps YOU don't have as good a grasp of U.S. history as you think you do?

I suppose YOUR forefathers (?) may have been happy with a Church of England or some such other messy arrangement. But I'm sure, from European example, OUR fathers knew better and therefore by not taxing religion they made sure there were no lingering connections....government did not tithe the church; simple as that. And that's the way it's been since.

There are other differences between the U.S. and other countries as well.....it's all in books/online if you're interested (I wouldn't be).

Legally speaking, Churches are a not-for-profit.org like so many others. If you pull the tax exempt status of religious institutions, you have to pull the status of all nonprofits. And as far as getting involved in politics goes, most churches do not politicize the pulpit, and even those that do you would either have to let them continue or deprive all not-for-profits from getting involved in the political process. What's your choice?

Sorry if this is going off topic, but the UK state does appoint C of E Bishops, The Queen then approves. Bishops have seats in The House of Lords and therefore have votes as lawmakers. That's quite a bit of state involvement both ways.

Hence the strong reaction against government interference in religion (and vice-versa) in the U.S. Constitution.

Religions are just selling fairy ales for adults.

Churches are thus just there to entertain us and should pay taxes just like any other entertainment center or business.

I do recognize that they sometime do charitable work, but like most charities, most of what they collect never gets used for charitable work and just goes to cover their own salaries and expenses. They are thus basically frauds and should pay taxes.

Regards
DL

Holy crap yes.
Organised religion and its relentless quest for power is at the root of most wars throughout history and has been a vehicle by which people in power rule over us and get us to fight and die for their benefit. Accruing vast wealth power and territory.

Churches are (have always been) the spiritual arm of Kings and capitalists, Its an age old trick conning us into giving up our lives or wealth for the promise of a better life afterwards ; it soothes the fear of those afraid of the dark. Churches give us Gods permission to serve a King or country to kill and to subjugate others who have a different God in the name of our rulers and our particular God.

Churches are amongst the oldest richest and most organised money making scams on this planet.... hell yes they should be taxed...... but fat chance that will happen.
The problem is that they are some of the best financial experts on earth and have it so well stitched up that the taxes would still get back to the same 0.01% at the top (latter day Pharaohs). Many tax laws are based upon religious principles.

All the top spiritual leaders of history were against the love of money (root of all evil apparently) but guess what their pure ideas are generally manipulated by selfish or misguided individuals over time and the original ideas are generally warped into the business of retaining and/or expanding the power the churches/religions already have .... they are all massive money making machines. Wolves in sheeps clothing.

Sorry for the anti religious rant but you did ask!