Do The General Authorities Pay Income Tax On Their Living Allowances?

[ERayR]

That would most unusual as no one is paid for work done for the church. IE; No one is paid for performing weddings, baptisms, speaking in church meetings, etc., etc., etc., and we don't pay any member indirectly for those services.

 

Again please give your source for this.  Does this extend to GA's, Seventies and Mission Presidents?

[Calm]

The Apostles are taxed for the paid work as directors of the various Church owned businesses.

This practice was discontinued so GAs could focus full time on church related matters, I believe.

Living stipend info here:

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_church_finances/No_paid_ministry/General_Authorities_living_stipend

Practice stopped in 96:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650194860/LDS-programs-evolve-over-the-years.html

Edited June 3, 2015 by calmoriah

[thesometimesaint]

Again please give your source for this.  Does this extend to GA's, Seventies and Mission Presidents?

 

I don't have a reference for you. But know of no case where GA's, Seventy's, or Mission Presidents are paid for their services to the Church. It is all volunteer work.

 

 

This practice was discontinued so GAs could focus full time on church related matters, I believe.

Living stipend info here:

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_church_finances/No_paid_ministry/General_Authorities_living_stipend

 

 

From your link.

I should like to add, parenthetically for your information, that the living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest in comparison with executive compensation in industry and the professions, come from this business income and not from the tithing of the people.^[2]

[Gray]

I don't have a reference for you. But know of no case where GA's, Seventy's, or Mission Presidents are paid for their services to the Church. It is all volunteer work.

 

 

 

I think that's a myth. What would they live on? Old copies of Our Search For Happiness?

[ERayR]

I don't have a reference for you. But know of no case where GA's, Seventy's, or Mission Presidents are paid for their services to the Church. It is all volunteer work.

 

 

 

From your link.

I should like to add, parenthetically for your information, that the living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest in comparison with executive compensation in industry and the professions, come from this business income and not from the tithing of the people.^[2]

 

 

I think that's a myth. What would they live on? Old copies of Our Search For Happiness?

 

Cal's link above states they are given living allowance and where it comes from and yes it is taxable.

[mnn727]

Since we have no information on what, how or how much money they are given, anything posted here is speculation at best and jealousy at worst.

[Jeanne]

The question of how much an apostle receives for a stipend came up in the Choosing A New Apostle thread. So as not to derail that thread, I have started a new one.

 

The Church insists on the calling the received money a living allowance, not a salary. My question (as indicated by the thread title) is do the general authorities pay income tax on the received money that the Church calls a living allowance? If so, how is a living allowance different from a salary?

Oh Wow. I admit that I haven't read everything yet...but like..gees, do they pay tithing on these gifts and/or stipends? 

[Jeanne]

Ooooo...how do you look at people struggling on welfare..and church welfare and have a second home in some cases???  No wonder women want the Priesthood! :acute:yes..I know..no one gets paid..and they all work on these "boards" and church businesses every day!

Edited June 3, 2015 by Jeanne

[Teancum]

No. No one is paid for their services to the Church. The Apostles are taxed for the paid work as directors of the various Church owned businesses.

 

 

Oh sure they are.  They are paid.

 

They don't work for directors any more. President Hinckley ended that many years ago.

[Teancum]

I don't have a reference for you. But know of no case where GA's, Seventy's, or Mission Presidents are paid for their services to the Church. It is all volunteer work.

 

 

 

From your link.

I should like to add, parenthetically for your information, that the living allowances given the General Authorities, which are very modest in comparison with executive compensation in industry and the professions, come from this business income and not from the tithing of the people.^[2]

 

Well really nobody knows the amounts not even FAIR. But full time leaders are paid. I know one former 70 personally and he was paid though I believe him when he said as a former attorney that it was nothing like he made in his prior life.

 

MPs are paid to.  All costs covered and more...quite generously so.

[ALarson]

MPs are paid to.  All costs covered and more...quite generously so.

As they should be (I'm not inferring that you were saying they shouldn't be paid).  Many still have large families to support and it would be very unrealistic to believe that all of those called to be MPs had 3 years worth of income saved up to support them while serving.

(I think this was in the Mission President's Handbook too, IIRC.  What expenses were covered, etc.)

 

I also believe that GAs should be supported and receive compensation to live on.

Edited June 3, 2015 by ALarson

[The Nehor]

Ooooo...how do you look at people struggling on welfare..and church welfare and have a second home in some cases???  No wonder women want the Priesthood! :acute:yes..I know..no one gets paid..and they all work on these "boards" and church businesses every day!

President Hinckley killed that practice. While it was a good way to have church leaders give their input and keep informed on church business matters and make a living stipend unnecessary it was decided that it was better not to do this now.

[The Nehor]

MPs are paid to.  All costs covered and more...quite generously so.

Not nearly what I would demand if asked how much I would charge to be in charge of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual safety of hundreds of teens and Tweens for three years.

[Gray]

Not nearly what I would demand if asked how much I would charge to be in charge of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual safety of hundreds of teens and Tweens for three years.

 

Did they reduce the mission age again?

[The Nehor]

Did they reduce the mission age again?

 

No, I was trying to subtly mock the maturity of many of those I served with as a missionary including myself.

[Gray]

No, I was trying to subtly mock the maturity of many of those I served with as a missionary including myself.

 

Ah yes. I remember well the things that my MTC comp got up to with a lighter after eating beans and rice. 

[The Nehor]

Ah yes. I remember well the things that my MTC comp got up to with a lighter after eating beans and rice. 

 

You too huh?

[Robert F. Smith]

It sounds to me more like keeping personal non church income separate from income/stipend/allowances received from the Church itself.  Confusing personal belongings and expenses with those that are incurred as a church representative can lead to major tax issues which are unnecessary if one does it like the law instructs one to do it.

 

We received a stipend from the US government to teach in Russia at the same time as our income from the University.  We did not mix the two as different tax rules applied, kept them separate for what they were to pay for (our time in Russia as opposed to our properties back home, schooling for the kids and some other stuff).  It sounds straight forward.  You tell your accountant that deals with personal accounts all the info he needs to do his job right.  You do not tell him business/church information that has little or nothing to do with his job.

Then too, those who live in foreign countries for over a year, have no U.S. tax obligation.  However, they may be required to pay taxes to the country in which they reside.

[Robert F. Smith]

Oh Wow. I admit that I haven't read everything yet...but like..gees, do they pay tithing on these gifts and/or stipends? 

Everyone pays tithing.

[Calm]

Then too, those who live in foreign countries for over a year, have no U.S. tax obligation.  

Then things have changed since we lived in Canada.

[cinepro]

This practice was discontinued so GAs could focus full time on church related matters, I believe.

Living stipend info here:

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_church_finances/No_paid_ministry/General_Authorities_living_stipend

Practice stopped in 96:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650194860/LDS-programs-evolve-over-the-years.html

 

Full time indeed...

 

Congressional Hearing and Testimony Transcript - Joseph F. Smith:

 

 

Mr. Tayler (prosecuting atty.):What is your business?

Mr. Smith (Mormon Prophet and President): My principle business is that of president of the church.

Mr. Tayler: In what other business are you engaged?

Mr. Smith: I am engaged in NUMEROUS other businesses.

Mr. Tayler: What?

Mr. Smith: I am PRESIDENT of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution.

Mr. Tayler: Of what other corporations are you an officer?

Mr. Smith: I am PRESIDENT of the State Bank of Utah, another institution.

Mr. Tayler: What else?

Mr. Smith: PRESIDENT of Zion's Savings Bank and Trust Company.

Mr. Tayler: What else?

Mr. Smith: I am PRESIDENT of the Utah Sugar Company.

Mr. Tayler: What else?

Mr. Smith: I am PRESIDENT of the Consolidated Wagon and Machine Company.

Mr. Tayler: What else?

Mr. Smith: There are several other SMALL INSTITUTIONS with which I am associated.

Mr. Tayler: Are you associated with the Utah Light and Power Company?

Mr. Smith: I am.

Mr. Tayler: In what capacity?

Mr. Smith: I am a director and PRESIDENT of the company.

Mr. Tayler: A director and the president?

Mr. Smith: Yes, sir.

Mr. Tayler: Had you that in mind when you classified the others as 'small concerns'?

Mr. Smith: No sir, I had not that in mind.

Mr. Tayler: That is a 'large concern'?

Mr. Smith: That is a large concern?

Mr. Tayler: Are you an officer of the Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railroad Company?

Mr. Smith: I am.

Mr. Tayler: What?

Mr. Smith: PRESIDENT and director.

Mr. Tayler: Of what else are you President?

Mr. Smith: I am PRESIDENT of the Salt Air Beach Company.

Mr. Tayler: What else, if you can recall.

Mr. Smith: I DO NOT RECALL JUST NOW!

Mr. Tayler: What relation do you sustain to the Idaho Sugar Company?

Mr. Smith: I am a director of that company and also the PRESIDENT of it.

Mr. Tayler: Of the Inland Crystal Salt Company?

Mr. Smith: Also the SAME POSITION THERE.

Mr. Tayler: The Salt Lake Dramatic Association?

Mr. Smith: I am PRESIDENT of that and also a DIRECTOR.

Mr. Tayler: Are you president of any other corporation there?

Mr. Smith: I DO NOT KNOW. PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL ME!! I DO NOT REMEMBER ANY MORE JUST NOW!

Mr. Tayler: It would seem that the number has grown so large that it would be an undue tax upon your memory to charge you with naming them all.

Mr. Smith: What relation do you sustain to the Salt Lake Knitting Company? Did I already ask you about it?

Mr. Smith: No sir, you did not.

Mr. Tayler: The Salt Lake Knitting Company?

Mr. Smith: I am PRESIDENT of it, and also a director.

Mr. Tayler: The Union Pacific Railway Company?

Mr. Smith: I am a DIRECTOR.

Mr. Tayler: Are you an official of any mining companies?

Mr. Smith: Yes, sir.

Mr. Tayler: What?

Mr. Smith: I am the vice-president of the Bullion, Beck and Champion Mining Company.

Mr. Tayler: The Deseret News?

Mr. Smith: No, sir.

Mr. Tayler: You have no business relations with that?

Mr. Smith: NO SIR.

Mr. Tayler: Is the Deseret News the 'organ of the Church'?

Mr. Smith: Well, I suppose it is in some sense the 'organ of the church'. It is not opposed to the church, at least.

Mr. Tayler: It has for years published, has it not, at the head of its columns, that it is "the organ of the church", or the "official organ of the church"?

Mr. Smith: Not that I know of.

Mr. Tayler: Do you know who owns it?

Mr. Smith: How is that?

Mr. Tayler: Do you know who owns it?

Mr. Smith: I know who owns the building that it is in.

Mr. Tayler: Who owns the building in which it is published?

Mr. Smith: The church.

Mr. Tayler: The church?

Mr. Smith: Yes, sir.

Mr. Tayler: Tell us what you know about the owners of that newspaper.

Mr. Smith: It has been for a number of years past owned by a company --- AN INCORPORATED COMPANY.

Mr. Tayler: What is the name of the company?

Mr. Smith: The Deseret News Publishing Company.

Mr. Tayler: Do you know who its officers are?

Mr. Smith: Now, it is not owned by that company.

Mr. Tayler: Oh, it is not?

Mr. Smith: No; it is not.

Mr. Tayler: What do you know ----

Mr. Smith: But I say for years it was owned by a company of that kind.

Mr. Tayler: What do you know about its present ownership?

Mr. Smith: I presume that the present ownership is IN THE CHURCH.

Mr. Tayler: You suppose the present owner is 'the church'?

Mr. Smith: Yes, sir; the church.

Mr. Tayler: I do not want to have any misconstruction put upon your use of the word 'presume' because you do not know that it is so owned?

Mr. Smith: I really do not know so that I could tell you positively.

Mr. Tayler: Who would know?

Mr. Smith: I PRESUME I could find out.

Mr. Tayler: Could you find out before you leave Washington?

Mr. Smith: Perhaps so.

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=2j8lAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA575&lpg=PA575&dq=joseph+f.+smith+%22I+am+engaged+in+numerous%22&source=bl&ots=85RtdMLHAn&sig=qUPTkb9EYrZl9WMe0-ThfCHC1FI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ir1wVcOoIYnHogSO0oCYBQ&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[JLHPROF]

Full time indeed...

 

That made me tired just reading it...