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Originally posted by smschulz:...
yes

Thanks.

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Originally posted by smschulz:

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Originally posted by sigmonkey:

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Originally posted by smschulz:.. (snipped for brevity. it's all meaningful)

Everyone should contribute, something.

Would you include all charitable organizations under this?

yes

So basically any association of people is now taxable? Government involvement into every group a society forms sounds very 1930s German.

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Originally posted by sigcrazy7:


So basically any association of people is now taxable?
Government involvement into every group a society forms sounds very 1930s German.

I didn't make any rules I just said that I thought everyone should pay (something) taxes.
Define it as you will > group, individual, business.
Nothing to do with 1930.

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Originally posted by smschulz:
I didn't make any rules I just said that I thought everyone should pay (something) taxes.
Define it as you will > group, individual, business.
Nothing to do with 1930.

Once you withdrawal the tax exempt status for religion, everything is fair game. Why would a religion pay taxes when Habitat for Humanity doesn't? If you are willing to tax non-profits, then you would tax everything. Taxes = Control. That is very much the hallmark of totalitarianism, i.e. 1930's Germany, or the USSR, or the current DPRK. There is no association where the government lacks control in these types of regimes.

The thing is, everybody has already paid something. The people who make up a congregation are citizens who also pay the same taxes as you. In essence, you are saying that somebody who doesn't attend church should pay taxes once, but a church goer, or charitable contribution payer, should pay twice.

As for the idea that donations are tax deductible, that just illustrates the point that the government uses the tax code to influence behavior, not to simply raise revenue, further strengthening the argument against taxing religion. Additionally, the majority of church-going tax payers are claiming the standard deduction, so their church donations aren't actually lowering their tax burden more than a person who just stays home on Sunday.*

If you're looking for a way to get everybody to pay, instead of advocating for the taxing of religion, you should advocate the elimination of the standard deduction and all other deductions, including the mortgage interest deduction. That way homeowner's would pay the same taxes as renters. Basically a flat tax.

*After the TCJA of 2018, only about 5% of people itemize their deductions on a Schedule A.

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Originally posted by 46and2:

The lost annual Property Taxes alone are enormous. Maybe build a few fewer fancy gymnasiums and a few fewer stained glass windows and a few fewer fancy robes and pay the fucking taxes.

I’m all for that, so we should definitely make the public schools pay property taxes and income taxes as well. My former high school has 6 skyboxes in their football stadium and was the first nonprofessional field in the state to put in artificial turf. My current local high school has the most amazing weight room I’ve ever seen. It sits empty 90% of the time. It’s just amazing the wasteful spending in public schools, so definitely tax the snot out of them.

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Originally posted by sigcrazy7:


Once you withdrawal the tax exempt status for religion, everything is fair game. Why would a religion pay taxes when Habitat for Humanity doesn't? If you are willing to tax non-profits, then you would tax everything.

Yep

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Taxes = Control.

Especially because the ones you carve out exceptions are now beholding to you.
I agree.

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The thing is, everybody has already paid something. The people who make up a congregation are citizens who also pay the same taxes as you. In essence, you are saying that somebody who doesn't attend church should pay taxes once, but a church goer, or charitable contribution payer, should pay twice.

LOL I wish we only had to pay tax once.
Yes everyone is taxed multiple times right now and that is how it will always be until the end of eternity.
You don't have to pay to go to church, I believe that most are free.

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If you're looking for a way to get everybody to pay, instead of advocating for the taxing of religion, you should advocate the elimination of the standard deduction and all other deductions, including the mortgage interest deduction. That way homeowner's would pay the same taxes as renters. Basically a flat tax.

First, I already said everyone should pay something (speaking primarily of income taxes here)
Second, yes that includes religion businesses too.
Third, I am all for a flat tax.

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Originally posted by smschulz:
First, I already said everyone should pay something (speaking primarily of income taxes here)
Second, yes that includes religion businesses too.
Third, I am all for a flat tax.

So you would support an amendment to repeal the establishment and free exercise of religion portions of the First Amendment?

SCOTUS has stated in an 8-1 ruling that taxing religious institutions would be a violation of the establishment and free exercise clause in the First.

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Originally posted by BamaJeepster:
So you would support an amendment to repeal the establishment and free exercise of religion portions of the First Amendment?

Now your just being silly.

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SCOTUS has stated in an 8-1 ruling that taxing religious institutions would be a violation of the establishment and free exercise clause in the First.

Well I obvious disagree with that if it is true.

You know it's great that we get to buy Joel Olsteen a $10M house in River Oaks (richest neighborhood in Houston) and a Ferrrari.
Life is good for him.
Yeah, churches should be taxed (income).