Thinking Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 I searched all the tithing topics that were archived and could not find one with a poll. What are your opinions?
JAHS Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 No on material and cash gifts. Normally the person giving the gift of cash expects you to use the entire amount of money for something you want or need and might not appreciate you giving some of it to a church they don't believe in. Some parents might use a cash gift given to a child by a grandparent as an opportunity to teach their child about tithing, which is fine if the grandparent is OK with it.
bluebell Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 Once someone gives a cash gift, it seems like it would be rude if they felt like they should be able to approve what the person buys with it. 3
JAHS Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 Once someone gives a cash gift, it seems like it would be rude if they felt like they should be able to approve what the person buys with it.You don't know my inlaws.
Calm Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) I feel your pain. My dad didn't give us cash, he gave us cash to pay for what he was giving us. Edited June 21, 2015 by calmoriah
mikegriffith1 Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 I searched all the tithing topics that were archived and could not find one with a poll. What are your opinions? It's very simple: A cash gift is "increase"--it increases your income. Therefore, you should pay tithing on it. If the cash gift is large enough to affect your tax obligations, then I would include that in your calculations. 1
Popular Post JAHS Posted June 21, 2015 Popular Post Posted June 21, 2015 Whenever this topic comes up I think of the 1970 letter from the First Presidency which says, "every member of the Church is entitled to make his own decision as to what he thinks he owes the Lord and to make payment accordingly" So mostly all we can do is express our opinion on what we think we should pay tithing on. 5
bluebell Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 You don't know my inlaws. One of my friends has in-laws like that. They are delusional. Overall good people, but still delusional.
Robert F. Smith Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 What about non-cash Xmas gifts, or birthday gifts? Most of us don't give them a second thought, and they are usually quite small -- in the hundreds of dollars range. But suppose your rich uncle gives you a new car? Not necessarily a Lamborghini or Masserati, but any new car. Paying tithing on it could be a huge, if not impossible burden for most young people. Certainly the IRS wants its cut of any new car won in a TV game show, but parental gifts are in a special category. Many parents, before they die, like to give substantial cash gifts. $11,000 or less doesn't get taxed by IRS, but what about any obligation to pay tithing on it? Ten percent of $11,000 is $1,100.
JAHS Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 What about non-cash Xmas gifts, or birthday gifts? Most of us don't give them a second thought, and they are usually quite small -- in the hundreds of dollars range. But suppose your rich uncle gives you a new car? Not necessarily a Lamborghini or Masserati, but any new car. Paying tithing on it could be a huge, if not impossible burden for most young people. Certainly the IRS wants its cut of any new car won in a TV game show, but parental gifts are in a special category. Many parents, before they die, like to give substantial cash gifts. $11,000 or less doesn't get taxed by IRS, but what about any obligation to pay tithing on it? Ten percent of $11,000 is $1,100.I think God will always bless us for whatever we decide to pay tithing on. Our level of faith in the principle will be the deciding factor.
Storm Rider Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 I find these kind of questions to be backwards and they create more of a Pharisee's approach to the laws and commandments of God. We pay 10% of our income; sometimes we pay more because we can afford to pay more; sometimes we pay less because we lack faith to pay the full amount. At the end of the day, tithing is between you and the God of the universe that has given you everything. We each will face him and account for our actions and choices. 2
Sleeper Cell Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 But suppose your rich uncle gives you a new car? Not necessarily a Lamborghini or Masserati, but any new car. Paying tithing on it could be a huge, if not impossible burden for most young people. Certainly the IRS wants its cut of any new car won in a TV game show, but parental gifts are in a special category. If it were an impossible burden, I would ask my rich (and non-LDS) uncle to give me enough money to pay tithing on the car he was giving me …That ought to go over real well. Alternately, I could rationalize that since at least 10% of my drive time is spent going to or from some sort of church meeting or other church function …
cinepro Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 If the person who gave me the gift is LDS, I assume they already paid tithing on the "income" used to buy the gift, and I'm sure the Lord doesn't want double-tithing, so no. Otherwise, yes. 2
Robert F. Smith Posted June 22, 2015 Posted June 22, 2015 If it were an impossible burden, I would ask my rich (and non-LDS) uncle to give me enough money to pay tithing on the car he was giving me …That ought to go over real well. ........................................................................................ Game show recipients of big ticket items often take the monetary equivalent instead. Makes it easier to pay the IRS and local tax bill.
ERayR Posted June 22, 2015 Posted June 22, 2015 (edited) It's very simple: A cash gift is "increase"--it increases your income. Therefore, you should pay tithing on it. If the cash gift is large enough to affect your tax obligations, then I would include that in your calculations. Gifts amongst family members are not usually taxable to the receiver. Edited June 22, 2015 by ERayR
HappyJackWagon Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 It's very simple: A cash gift is "increase"--it increases your income. Therefore, you should pay tithing on it. If the cash gift is large enough to affect your tax obligations, then I would include that in your calculations.So if my grandparents die and give my parents an inheritance of cash which they then turn around and gift to me, which I then put into a college fund for my child, should those same funds be tithed 4 times? (Grandparents, parents, me, child all tithing on funds that are gifted).
Rain Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Don't know. The only one who can know is the person who received the gift each time.
Tacenda Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I don't think the church needs the money, can't tithing go toward other entities?
The Nehor Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I don't think the church needs the money, can't tithing go toward other entities?If you think the church does not need the money and God is not entitled to it then give it to whoever you want. I just doubt that justification will be that impressive at the Final Judgement. 2
JAHS Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I don't think the church needs the money, can't tithing go toward other entities? "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house" (Mal 3:10) I am pretty sure "mine house" is refering to God's kingdom on earth (ie the Church). "Other entities" would fall under humanitarin aid which we can freely give to. 2
Kenngo1969 Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) Normally the person giving the gift of cash expects you to use the entire amount of money for something you want or need and might not appreciate you giving some of it to a church they don't believe in. ...Who cares? Once they give it to me, it's mine to use as I see fit, even if all or part of it goes to a cause they don't believe in. If my nieces or nephews supported, say, PETA, even if I think the organization's aims and motives are over the top and often unnecessary, if they wanted to donate something I gave to them to PETA, it's their money, to use as they see fit. If I have a problem with it, then I don't give them cash. Edited June 25, 2015 by Kenngo1969 1
JAHS Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Who cares? Once they give it to me, it's mine to use as I see fit, even if all or part of it goes to a cause they don't believe in. If my nieces or nephews supported, say, PETA, even if I think the organization's aims and motives are over the top and often unnecessary, if they wanted to donate something I gave to them to PETA, it's their money, to use as they see fit. If I have a problem with it, then I don't give them cash. Like I said earler, you don't know my inlaws, who in our earlier years would provide us help to live on with specific instructions to not give any of it to the church. Or when they gave us money for a down payment on our first home. We had no money to pay tithing on that. I suppose we could have refused the help, but easier said than done.
Kenngo1969 Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) Like I said earler, you don't know my inlaws, who in our earlier years would provide us help to live on with specific instructions to not give any of it to the church. Or when they gave us money for a down payment on our first home. We had no money to pay tithing on that. I suppose we could have refused the help, but easier said than done.How would they necessarily know what you did with the money? What did they do, audit you? Were you on the honor system? (You don't have to answer any of those questions: the answers are your business.) And in no way am I judging whatever you did, but, perhaps in that circumstance, I would see if the person(s) wanting to give me the money would simply write a check to my lender. You might get different answers on this from faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ, but, in my book, if it's a nonfungible asset such as a payment by a third party, I don't consider it my "increase," and, hence, don't pay tithing on it. My $0.02. P.S.: Actually, that was only $0.018, since I paid tithing on it. Edited June 26, 2015 by Kenngo1969
JAHS Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 How would they necessarily know what you did with the money? What did they do, audit you? Were you on the honor system? (You don't have to answer any of those questions: the answers are your business.) And in no way am I judging whatever you did, but, perhaps in that circumstance, I would see if the person(s) wanting to give me the money would simply write a check to my lender. You might get different answers on this from faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ, but, in my book, if it's a nonfungible asset such as a payment by a third party, I don't consider it my "increase," and, hence, don't pay tithing on it. My $0.02. P.S.: Actually, that was only $0.018, since I paid tithing on it. Actually with situations like this I don't consider such things gifts that might be tithed, but just as parental support that's all within the same family.
ERayR Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 Isn't it great that God commands and leaves it up to us as to how we respond. 1
Recommended Posts