Would that go against separation of church and state? It would tax not only properties but school buildings and places that feed the poor.
Any property a church has that is not directly used for spiritual, educational, or charitable activities is taxed.Would that go against separation of church and state? It would tax not only properties but school buildings and places that feed the poor.
I think churches should be taxed.Would that go against separation of church and state? It would tax not only properties but school buildings and places that feed the poor.
I think churches should be taxed.
They benefit from all the things taxes provide for everyone else. They should pay their own fair share of keeping things working.
However, if it helps, I don't think that of just churches. I think everyone should pay their fair share of keeping things up around here. And that includes wealthy people, corporations and non-profits. I get tired of carrying the load for all three of those groups.
Yeah, they should be taxed on what people donate to them, what they own, and what they sell. Value isn't based on whether one's possessions are purchased or gifted. Value is based on what they are worth on the open market.Taxed on what? What people donate to them? The government taxes on products and services that people are paid for. We don't pay to go to church...what we give has already been taxed when WE earned it.
If a church makes or sells a product, then that might deserved to be taxed ... but again, it would have to be made and sold by paid employees and not by volunteers...
Yeah, they should be taxed on what people donate to them, what they own, and what they sell. Value isn't based on whether one's possessions are purchased or gifted. Value is based on what they are worth on the open market.
Why should donations be taxed? They are taxed when the donator earns them. He shouldn't be double taxed because he/she gave them to the church. (If they are taxed at donation then the value of the gift gets reduces which does harm the person doing the donation).
And value is not always based on the value in the open market...most property has a cap on how much taxes can be increased each year which may or may not be the actual value of the property. Personally, taxing someone on what they were taxed on when they bought it doesn't sound very fair either.
Would that go against separation of church and state? It would tax not only properties but school buildings and places that feed the poor.
??No. Religions simply aren't for-profit institutions.
<frown> Which part of the Constitution prohibits taxing churches? The Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a 'state church' but as long as the government taxes all religions equally (and it SHOULD) there is no violation of the Constitution.It would require some major constitutional changes, so it's unlikely to happen.
I would be OK with it if those constitutional changes included a few other things as well.
First of all, I would say that if one is giving to their church just for taxation benefits, they are doing it for all the wrong reasons.
But taxes are not based on whether something (be it money or product) has been taxed already or not. Taxes are based on transfers of ownership. For instance, your employer pays taxes on the money he earns by selling product or services. He uses the money -he- paid taxes on to pay you for the work you do for him. And YOU pay taxes on the money you get from him that he paid taxes on.
That is the way taxes work. Government would go broke (broker?) if money and products were only taxed once.
When a transfer of ownership of money or product occurs, it -should- always trigger a new round of taxation. Sadly, government sometimes think that certain situations (ie. wealthy people, religious institutions and charitable groups) warrants a forgiveness of taxation.
I disagree with that stance. Those classes use the services provided by government and should pay their share of the cost for those services. Taxes should include everyone instead of just the working poor and middle class.
"Taxes are based on transfers of ownership" umm, no actually tax is based off of business transactions of sales or services.
Unconditional transfer from one party to another is not a business transaction, it's charity. A non-profit gift is not a business transaction,it does not make a profit. If it does not make a profit, how can it be taxed. The tax was paid prior.
Your statement about government going broke is telling. It's not about what is fair, it's about keeping the regime alive.
So what if the government collapses, a new one will rise up. No excuse for extorting the church.
<frown> Which part of the Constitution prohibits taxing churches? The Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a 'state church' but as long as the government taxes all religions equally (and it SHOULD) there is no violation of the Constitution.