Tax The Churches

[Teatownclown]

Catholic Bishop Who Compared Obama To Hitler Orders Anti-Obama Letter Read From Pulpit
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/11/01/1120731/catholic-bishop-who-compared-obama-to-hitler-orders-anti-obama-letter-read-from-pulpit/

Tax the churches and sanctuaries and then I will have no problem with how they all mess with the State. We have separation of church and state for the very reason of tax avoidance.



"render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's and unto God that which is God's." JC

[guido911]

Here's an idea. Why not make everyone pay taxes first. Seriously, do the 47% who pay no federal income tax have their rights to speak freely under the First Amendment stopped because they do not pay? "Tax the Churches" is more "free speech for me but not for thee" sh!t.

[Townsend]

Here's an idea. Why not make everyone pay taxes first. Seriously, do the 47% who pay no federal income tax have their rights to speak freely under the First Amendment stopped because they do not pay? "Tax the Churches" is more "free speech for me but not for thee" sh!t.

Wait, I thought the 47% didn't matter anyway.

[guido911]

Wait, I thought the 47% didn't matter anyway.

Oh, they don't. So let's just take their rights to vote away. They haven't paid for it anyway.

[Townsend]

Oh, they don't. So let's just take their rights to vote away. They haven't paid for it anyway.

I think that's in the works.

[carltonplace]

Oh, they don't. So let's just take their rights to vote away. They haven't paid for it anyway.

Service men and women certainly have.

My retired mom too.

Kids can't vote so we agree on that % of the 47%

[nathanm]

Here's an idea. Why not make everyone pay taxes first. Seriously, do the 47% who pay no federal income tax have their rights to speak freely under the First Amendment stopped because they do not pay? "Tax the Churches" is more "free speech for me but not for thee" sh!t.

Is the federal income tax the only one that counts? If so, why?

Before you answer, don't forget that some of the richest people in the US pay no federal income tax. Same goes for many of the largest corporations, who inexplicably manage to have all their profits accumulate offshore.

[Townsend]

How many differing religions are tax free?

Is the government hedging its bets?

[Gaspar]

I worship money.



When does my church get its tax free status?

[RecycleMichael]

Free speech matters for all of us and that includes churches. The churches are an important part of our society (as is government).

I serve on many non-profit boards. These are the rules for our involvement in elections:

Elections

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are prohibited from conducting political campaign activities to intervene in elections to public office.[29] The Internal Revenue Service website elaborates upon this prohibition as follows:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.

Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.

On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention. The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition. As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.

The rules for a 501c3 for lobbying are as follows:

The general rule is that 501(c)(3) organizations are limited in lobbying by the requirement that "no substantial part of the activities be used for carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation." Because this vague rule was difficult to interpret and apply, Congress modified the tax code to permit certain 501(c)(3) organizations to elect to lobby under prescribed limits, which provide a safe harbor for the lobbying activities of the organizations. An organization that chooses not elect to follow the safe harbor limits of the tax code can still lobby, but only if lobbying does not constitute a substantial part of the activities of the organization.

A 501(c)(3) organization may choose to participate in lobbying activities under the safe harbor provisions of the tax code by filing form 5768 with the Internal Revenue Service. Once the election has been made, the organization is subject to specific expenditure limits for lobbying activities rather than the more vague "no substantial part" rule. (Election is optional; the organization may prefer to rely on the general rule, particularly if lobbying activities are minimal.) The expenditure limits under the election rules are graduated beginning at 20% of the first $500,000 of the organization's expenditures for charitable "exempt function" purposes, plus 15% of the second $500,000 of charitable "exempt function" expenditures, plus 10% of the third $500,000, plus 5% of any additional expenditures, subject to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any one year.

I can't say who to vote for but I could make a voter guide with information about the candidates views on our issues. I could hire a lobbyist to convince elected officials to vote our way, but can't help get him elected.

[nathanm]

Let's not forget the 501(c)4s who are completely opaque and can run all the "issue" ads they like, even when they're clearly campaigning against a specific candidate. Like SuperPACs, they're not supposed to coordinate with candidates, but there is very strong evidence that at least some of them do indeed coordinate, possibly even extending to the point of running the campaign in all but name.

[Red Arrow]

I worship money.



When does my church get its tax free status?

http://www.funnysigns.net/files/hell-froze-over-400x221.jpg

[Red Arrow]

Is the federal income tax the only one that counts? If so, why?

Yes.  Because it sends you ballistic.

[nathanm]

Yes.  Because it sends you ballistic.

Glad to know you care so much!