Elder Oaks To Receive Religious Freedom Award

[DH]

"The power to tax is the power to destroy" is the basic concept of tax-exemption. Specialized taxes can be created to control the actions of a religious organization, as almost happened in the UK. "So.... you cannot require a temple recomment to enter the temple, or we will impose a major tax on you."

The same principle (which I'm not sure I agree with, anyway) could apply to other organizations, and individuals, could it not? I pay taxes--does that mean I don't have religious freedom? Now if the goverment levied a special tax on Mormons I totally agree, that would be a problem. But it doesn't do that. I'm only arguing that churches be treated similarly to everybody else, not receive special favors from the government.

Why would you want to have the government check on how we spend our money?

I don't think I said that. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Obviously you are a BIG government person, where we are controlled by a centralized auhority. There are those who think that is a dangerous proposition, expecially for the church. There are those who want to destroy the church, and your ideas are exactly the path to take for that destruction.

And you obviously are paying no attention to what I'm saying.

"You Mormons have billions of dollars, so you can afford to pay 50% tax if you really want to keep your temple worship secret." The temple makes the church vunerable to attack.

I'm not advocating that. I pay taxes, but the government doesn't demand to know what I do in the privacy of my home under threat of raising my taxes. If it did, then obviously there would be a problem.

[Calm]

So are you suggesting that churches are treated as businesses? Or that a special tax code be applied to them so that their charitable endeavours are fully taxexempt.

If churches are allowed to be taxed, what can prevent the government from making a special taxcode for churches, one that either favours them or one that might cripple their ability to preach their faith?

[thesometimesaint]

calmoriah:

Actually there is nothing, outside of existing law, from preventing our governments from doing that right now. However businesses must show a profit or they wouldn't last long as a business. What, if any profit, could a church show?

[Calm]

There are many things the government can do, much fewer things the government should do.

[thesometimesaint]

True.

[cdowis]

I pay taxes, but the government doesn't demand to know what I do in the privacy of my home under threat of raising my taxes. If it did, then obviously there would be a problem.

The government does demand to know what you do with your money, if you intend to do deductions.

A church does nothing "in the privacy of its home". What aspects of missionary work will be deductible, and which will be taxable. Every aspect of income and expenditures will be subject to government scrutiny. What percent of income will be allowable for maintenance, building temples, etc.

It will want to know how much tithing and offerings income you get, how we use that money, and some bureaucrat will decide which can be deductible and which is not.

Do you really want government to decide on how we use our money? REALLY?

[blackstrap]

Do a reno on your house and there will be a govt agent around to see where you put your money and see what new taxes you will be required to pay.

[thesometimesaint]

The government does demand to know what you do with your money, if you intend to do deductions.

A church does nothing "in the privacy of its home". What aspects of missionary work will be deductible, and which will be taxable. Every aspect of income and expenditures will be subject to government scrutiny. What percent of income will be allowable for maintenance, building temples, etc.

It will want to know how much tithing and offerings income you get, how we use that money, and some bureaucrat will decide which can be deductible and which is not.

Do you really want government to decide on how we use our money? REALLY?

There is the standard deduction everyone is entitled to use. Itemizing gets you a little more income tax deduction, but most people find it not worth the time used.

Our missionaries aren't paid by the Church so that is considered volunteer work. It isn't taxed. When we sent our son on his mission. It was considered a gift from us. The amount was so low that it wasn't subject to the gift tax.

Church buildings and offices would be claimed under capital depreciation rates. So in a few years would be of no value for tax purposes. I'm not sure how anyone could measure the economic value of a church building anyway. They are not money making entities. They only cost money to build and operate.

The IRS already knows those amounts. The only real question is if/how much is considered income subject to income taxes.

They already know, and have told what we can do with it for many years. I just don't see it as a problem.