Some commenters are pointing out that all nonprofits are tax-exempt in the United States. This is true, but religious organizations enjoy an extra benefit. Secular non-profits have to apply for 501(c)3 status and then file an annual return. Churches and the like are presumed to be 501(c)3 organizations and have no filing or disclosure requirements, and the IRS is loath to investigate them.
Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
41–50 of 335 posts
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#42Much needed. USA should follow.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/mormon-church-...
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#43Churches get a bad rap these days, for many reasons. I want to take a minute to defend them. Right away, I want to say that I am not defending religion-driven bigotry, nor megachurches, nor abuse. I don't know about Canada, but in the U.S. churches are still where communities meet, where people connect with the spiritual world, and also the ones doing most of the "heavy lifting" on any kind of charity activity. They…
This is such an important point.
It's going to go against the grain at hackernews, but taxing churches in the US is a terrible idea. If you wanted to further the divide between the "liberal city"/"conservative rural" American cultures, this would be a great way to do it.
If you grew up in a rural area of the flyover states you would know that churches form the backbone of these rural communities. For example, the church in my hometown organizes youth gaming nights (yes, D&D style), widow support groups, and hosts food drives along with so many more things. They're so poor that every year they have a board meeting and the board divides up the operating expenses that are unpaid and they pay them out of pocket. The board members are 'well-to-do' community members with job titles like firemen and teacher. If they were not tax-exempt, they would have to shutter.
This is not to condone or justify the negative impacts that some churches have on this country, and religion often serves as a cloak for a lot of bad cultural habits like racism. I understand why people want to combat abuses of the non-profit status of the church, but taxing them is not the way to accomplish this.
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#44I am an atheist but I don't see how this is tech related or why it should be in HN.
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#45Perhaps they should worship the government?
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The state is giving them special treatment. No it's not. All non-profits are untaxed. If you are going to charge churches, then charge all non-profits. Personally I think that's a bad policy.
But non-profits have to pay property tax, right? I don't think religious institutions have to pay property taxes. Ok, I looked it up: “states subsidize religions to the tune of about $26.2 billion per year by not requiring religious institutions to pay property taxes for property worth about $600 billion. This subsidy is of particular interest because property taxes pay for services such as firefighting and police, w…
> But non-profits have to pay property tax, right?
No, non-profits do not have to pay property tax.
So by that measure states also subsidize non-profits. And your math does not take into account the amount of services religions provide residents.
If you went by the internet religions do nothing except take money, but if you visit the real world, religions are the backbone of social services in the US.
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#47Churches get a bad rap these days, for many reasons. I want to take a minute to defend them. Right away, I want to say that I am not defending religion-driven bigotry, nor megachurches, nor abuse. I don't know about Canada, but in the U.S. churches are still where communities meet, where people connect with the spiritual world, and also the ones doing most of the "heavy lifting" on any kind of charity activity. They…
Sounds fair but why can't these things just be a not for profit? Don't know about the US law, but often in my country there are for-profit non-profit.
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#48I acknowledge this is anecdotal but in the Bay Area CA I drive by many churches (of different faiths) occupying large areas of land on prime hilltop real estate. I’m astonished by this.
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
and many are not. so the right thing is to evaluate them on case by case basis.
They should just register as charities. No more special cases.
If you check the law that's exactly what already happens.
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/are-there-advantages-to-being-...
"There are no direct legal benefits associated with being identified as an FBO."
Re: Montreal is taxing churches (2017)
#50What's bizarre to me is that they are tax free for worship (in my mind fair enough). But get taxed for hosting community services, e.g., foodbank. Definitely think usage in charitable functions warrants tax exemption as much as service
I don't think it's that bizarre. I find it quite subversive when a church group does 'community events' when there are other organisations which those church members could join to achieve the same result, without flying the banner of $ideology.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souperism for a more blatant historical take.