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I live by a church who is exempt from property taxes and federal income tax. Yet, if the church catches on fire or is broken into, it's the publicly funded fire and police that come to the rescue. If the church hosts a picnic, it's the federally funded FDA that keeps the salmonella out of the potato salad. And I'm not even scratching the service of certain church founders and administrators that make more than a decent living.

I realize the benefits that churches bring, but plenty of private businesses provide benefits to society as well. And yet they still have to pay.

Discuss.

Eliminate the IRS and implement a 10% sales tax with no exemptions.

kalm wrote:I live by a church who is exempt from property taxes and federal income tax. Yet, if the church catches on fire or is broken into, it's the publicly funded fire and police that come to the rescue. If the church hosts a picnic, it's the federally funded FDA that keeps the salmonella out of the potato salad. And I'm not even scratching the service of certain church founders and administrators that make more than a decent living.

I realize the benefits that churches bring, but plenty of private businesses provide benefits to society as well. And yet they still have to pay.

Discuss.

The members paid for the church building, not God, and they pay taxes: The building is their fixed asset.

Next.

The FDA example may be a stretch but I think tax exempt properties should pay a fee for police and fire protection. That is one thing everybody benefits from.

Nothing should be tax exempt. Not churches, charities, Universities, etc.

All should pay property/sales taxes.

If the Post Office burns down...will the local fire department respond since the feds don't pay property tax on that lot???

If there is a shooting at the local Department of Agriculture office, will the police respond since the feds don't pay property taxes???

Credit Unions don't pay taxes either.

Tax them IF they donate to political campaigns or have any input on political agendas. If they do this, tax them as if they were a business. If they want to avoid this tax, they can keep their contributions to themselves.

HI54UNI wrote:The FDA example may be a stretch but I think tax exempt properties should pay a fee for police and fire protection. That is one thing everybody benefits from.

Guilty as charged on the FDA. I'll admit that coming up with a federal example is more challenging, but the point is that any entity that costs a government money through services and use of infrastructure should pay it's fair share. And SDhornets point about political support is also spot on.

kalm wrote:

HI54UNI wrote:The FDA example may be a stretch but I think tax exempt properties should pay a fee for police and fire protection. That is one thing everybody benefits from.

Guilty as charged on the FDA. I'll admit that coming up with a federal example is more challenging, but the point is that any entity that costs a government money through services and use of infrastructure should pay it's fair share. And SDhornets point about political support is also spot on.

for you, kalm, and for Hornet.

kalm wrote:

HI54UNI wrote:The FDA example may be a stretch but I think tax exempt properties should pay a fee for police and fire protection. That is one thing everybody benefits from.

Guilty as charged on the FDA. I'll admit that coming up with a federal example is more challenging, but the point is that any entity that costs a government money through services and use of infrastructure should pay it's fair share. And SDhornets point about political support is also spot on.

Only individual citizens are exposed to the full on taxation (attack) of the federal and state machines...

1) Become incorporated
or
2) Become a religion

kalm wrote:I live by a church who is exempt from property taxes and federal income tax. Yet, if the church catches on fire or is broken into, it's the publicly funded fire and police that come to the rescue. If the church hosts a picnic, it's the federally funded FDA that keeps the salmonella out of the potato salad. And I'm not even scratching the service of certain church founders and administrators that make more than a decent living.

I realize the benefits that churches bring, but plenty of private businesses provide benefits to society as well. And yet they still have to pay.

Discuss.

I have no problem with churches being tax exempt but they should pay a surcharge or something for the benefits they receive from local government. Fire, Police whatever else.

Col Hogan wrote:If the Post Office burns down...will the local fire department respond since the feds don't pay property tax on that lot???

If there is a shooting at the local Department of Agriculture office, will the police respond since the feds don't pay property taxes???

Don't know about other places but around here the small federal offices - post office, USDA - are privately owned and leased back to the feds. So they are actually paying property taxes.

Chizzang wrote:

kalm wrote:
Guilty as charged on the FDA. I'll admit that coming up with a federal example is more challenging, but the point is that any entity that costs a government money through services and use of infrastructure should pay it's fair share. And SDhornets point about political support is also spot on.

Only individual citizens are exposed to the full on taxation (attack) of the federal and state machines...

1) Become incorporated
or
2) Become a religion

I love this country, and this country loves me. Subchapter S for over 30 years now.

So the separation of church and state sword cuts both ways. Interesting.

How do priests get paid? I would think what ever they get paid would have personal taxes taken out. I mean working for the church isn't much different than a non-profit right as far as taxes are concerned.

HI54UNI wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:If the Post Office burns down...will the local fire department respond since the feds don't pay property tax on that lot???

If there is a shooting at the local Department of Agriculture office, will the police respond since the feds don't pay property taxes???

Don't know about other places but around here the small federal offices - post office, USDA - are privately owned and leased back to the feds. So they are actually paying property taxes.

yep

building i work is owned by a local developer, we lease it from him

i'm sure he gets soaked on the commercial rate for property taxes

dbackjon wrote:Nothing should be tax exempt. Not churches, charities, Universities, etc.

All should pay property/sales taxes.

Agreed.

andy7171 wrote:So the separation of church and state sword cuts both ways. Interesting.

How do priests get paid? I would think what ever they get paid would have personal taxes taken out. I mean working for the church isn't much different than a non-profit right as far as taxes are concerned.

I am sure they are taxed on their income and rightfully so. The issue I have is a religious organization having the ability being able to throw their untaxed coffers behind a political agenda.

This entire discussion is necessary only because taxes are too damn high and too damn complicated.

If taxes were low enough and simple enough, there would be no need for exemptions.

native wrote:This entire discussion is necessary only because taxes are too damn high and too damn complicated.

If taxes were low enough and simple enough, there would be no need for exemptions.

But if taxes were low, however could we afford to protect the free world?

travelinman67 wrote:

kalm wrote:I live by a church who is exempt from property taxes and federal income tax. Yet, if the church catches on fire or is broken into, it's the publicly funded fire and police that come to the rescue. If the church hosts a picnic, it's the federally funded FDA that keeps the salmonella out of the potato salad. And I'm not even scratching the service of certain church founders and administrators that make more than a decent living.

I realize the benefits that churches bring, but plenty of private businesses provide benefits to society as well. And yet they still have to pay.

Discuss.

The members paid for the church building, not God, and they pay taxes: The building is their fixed asset.

Next.

Uhm, I pay taxes and my house is a fixed asset...but I pay property taxes.

SDHornet wrote:

native wrote:This entire discussion is necessary only because taxes are too damn high and too damn complicated.

If taxes were low enough and simple enough, there would be no need for exemptions.

But if taxes were low, however could we afford to protect the free world?

Here are your tax dollars at work....

This one is good for a little perspective...