Should we remove tax exempt status for Mosque?

[Cecilie1200]

By definition, charities AREN'T businesses.

But hey, you want to suck a bunch of money out of the Salvation Army to give to the federal government to fritter away? We'll send the homeless people to bunk at YOUR house.

If your objection is, "Ehrmagerd, the IRS has special administrative designations to allow them to keep track of who does and doesn't meet non-profit requirements, WE CAN'T HAVE NAMES FOR THINGS!" then you're not very bright.

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

Really? What government services are charities getting that are paid by income taxes? And conversely, what are charities ADDING to the community that businesses don't, which you are willing to do away with simply because you think it's "unfair" that people who make no profit aren't still charged as though they do?

Let's see

Roads, water, sewer etc etc are all public services provided by government agencies anyone and everyone who uses them should pay like everyone else

Being exempt from not only federal taxes but the myriad of state taxes means we are all paying for them

And like I said if they truly show zero profit any year then they will pay no income taxes will they?

There are a million and one ways to show zero profit and these tax exempt businesses have been taking advantage of them for way too long

Where the fuck do YOU live, that water and sewer are paid for by taxes, rather than by utility bills?

Roads are paid for by property taxes and taxes on gasoline. Last time I checked, non-profit organizations pay the same prices for gasoline in their vehicles that everyone else does. Most non-profits also pay property taxes. Whether or not they don't depends on the laws of their state and municipality, and what type of non-profit they are. For example, a Catholic-run emergency shelter for children would not pay property taxes, as an exchange for relieving the government of some of ITS obligation for running that service (yes, I know that governments still run emergency shelters for children. However, the existence of privately-run shelters expands the facilities available to them without expanding the government's expenses). Whether or not a church's property is taxed or not depends on what the property is and what use it is put to.

And like I said, why in the hell would you make a charity spend more time and money on accounting as though they're a for-profit that simply had a bad year, rather than tailoring their accounting to what they actually ARE, a charity that has no intention of "profiting"? What the fuck kind of logic is THAT? Should an organization that exists to provide housing for the homeless spend its money on accounting staff to produce profit-and-loss, income, and equity statements, etc. simply to show that it doesn't engage in any of that, or should it spend its money on housing the homeless? People already get outraged by charities that spend half or more of every dollar on "administrative costs", and you're suggesting that that should be increased, to what purpose? Simply so that YOU can love your rump roast, knowing that churches aren't "special"?

 

[Cecilie1200]

By definition, charities AREN'T businesses.

But hey, you want to suck a bunch of money out of the Salvation Army to give to the federal government to fritter away? We'll send the homeless people to bunk at YOUR house.

If your objection is, "Ehrmagerd, the IRS has special administrative designations to allow them to keep track of who does and doesn't meet non-profit requirements, WE CAN'T HAVE NAMES FOR THINGS!" then you're not very bright.

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

Yes, it's brilliant to suggest forcing charities to wade through exponentially more tax paperwork and red tape every year just so that they can prove they aren't liable for any taxes, rather than simply classifying them tax-exempt, JUST so that you can vent your spleen on a handful of them who dare to be based on religious beliefs.

Oh, AND to incidentally open the door for churches and religious organizations to start being politically active and partisan, which I'm SURE is something you definitely want happening, right?

You have no fucking clue why the 501(c)(3) classification exists, that's obvious. All you see is, "Churches!!!! Aaaaagh!!!! We must marginalize them immediately!!!! If we notice that they exist in society, that's SPECIAL TREATMENT!!!! A theocracy is coming!!!!"

But by all means, if you can demonstrate that there's a logical reason to overcomplicate the tax system further in regards to non-profits - and please do keep in mind that it would apply to ALL non-profits, not merely religious organizations - then lay it on me.

They wouldn't have to wade through anymore paperwork than any business

Getting rid of all the tax laws written especially for charities and churches would simplify the tax code

You're clearly not an accountant. Businesses do completely different paperwork and accounting than non-profits do. That's why accounting degrees have entire classes in accounting specifically for non-profits. You can even get a degree specifically in accounting for non-profits.

There's a world of difference between IRS paperwork for an organization that is not aimed at making a profit, and one that is aimed at making a profit and simply didn't this year. And there are good reasons for doing it that way.

I'm still waiting for you to give me any good reason to do it differently, because I note that you still have not done so. And no, "simplify the tax code" doesn't count, because while the written law might have less to it, the workload on both sides would increase.

And getting rid of all the extra shit on the books for so called non profit businesses will simplify the tax code

Oh, okay, we're going to do leftist-think now: I'll just ignore you pointing out how my assertion is bullshit, and blindly repeat it over and over.

H'ray, we have fewer pages in the tax law . . . and infinitely more actual workload. But we've "simplified the tax code"! We've accomplished . . . nothing whatso-fucking-ever, but we've "simplified the tax code". I has a buzzword, and fuck the reality of the situation! Hooray!

 

[Skull Pilot]

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

Really? What government services are charities getting that are paid by income taxes? And conversely, what are charities ADDING to the community that businesses don't, which you are willing to do away with simply because you think it's "unfair" that people who make no profit aren't still charged as though they do?

Let's see

Roads, water, sewer etc etc are all public services provided by government agencies anyone and everyone who uses them should pay like everyone else

Being exempt from not only federal taxes but the myriad of state taxes means we are all paying for them

And like I said if they truly show zero profit any year then they will pay no income taxes will they?

There are a million and one ways to show zero profit and these tax exempt businesses have been taking advantage of them for way too long

Where the fuck do YOU live, that water and sewer are paid for by taxes, rather than by utility bills?

Roads are paid for by property taxes and taxes on gasoline. Last time I checked, non-profit organizations pay the same prices for gasoline in their vehicles that everyone else does. Most non-profits also pay property taxes. Whether or not they don't depends on the laws of their state and municipality, and what type of non-profit they are. For example, a Catholic-run emergency shelter for children would not pay property taxes, as an exchange for relieving the government of some of ITS obligation for running that service (yes, I know that governments still run emergency shelters for children. However, the existence of privately-run shelters expands the facilities available to them without expanding the government's expenses). Whether or not a church's property is taxed or not depends on what the property is and what use it is put to.

And like I said, why in the hell would you make a charity spend more time and money on accounting as though they're a for-profit that simply had a bad year, rather than tailoring their accounting to what they actually ARE, a charity that has no intention of "profiting"? What the fuck kind of logic is THAT? Should an organization that exists to provide housing for the homeless spend its money on accounting staff to produce profit-and-loss, income, and equity statements, etc. simply to show that it doesn't engage in any of that, or should it spend its money on housing the homeless? People already get outraged by charities that spend half or more of every dollar on "administrative costs", and you're suggesting that that should be increased, to what purpose? Simply so that YOU can love your rump roast, knowing that churches aren't "special"?

A lot of that is subsidized by other local taxes

Non profits are exempt from property and sales taxes both of which are paid into the general fund of a state to pay for services everyone in the state uses so they should pay as well

And churches aren't special and by having laws on the books that gives special treatment to churches is a violation of the fist amendment

And by treating charities like every other business they would not have to jump through more hoops they would simply lose their special treatment and have to jump through the same hoops every other business does

 

[hortysir]

The government exempts non-profit organizations from taxes, because they DON'T MAKE A PROFIT TO TAX. You act like churches and religious organizations are the only groups who get that exemption. There are 1.5 million registered non-profit organizations in the US, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS).

And it is only a "violation of the First Amendment" if they don't extend that exemption impartially to ALL religious organizations who meet the requirements.

No business should be tax exempt even if that business is a charity

If a business truly is non profit then they need no special status they can file their taxes every year and show zero profit therefore pay no tax

By definition, charities AREN'T businesses.

But hey, you want to suck a bunch of money out of the Salvation Army to give to the federal government to fritter away? We'll send the homeless people to bunk at YOUR house.

If your objection is, "Ehrmagerd, the IRS has special administrative designations to allow them to keep track of who does and doesn't meet non-profit requirements, WE CAN'T HAVE NAMES FOR THINGS!" then you're not very bright.

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

They repay us with the work that they do in charities

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

 

[Preacher]

this idea was floated around a few years ago by the left. The said it wasn't an attempt to destroy churches by cutting into their revenue. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Why not remove the tax exempt status of mosque?

ALL houses of worship should lose their tax exempt status.

Why? Explain to me how you've really thought this through, rather than just kneejerked to "I don't like religious people! Aaaaagh!!!"

Why the hell not? EVERY religion uses its pull to push for political things that helps them or its something they want American to do on top of that EVERY business pays taxes why the hell should they be any different? America puts religion on a damn stand up high like its some untouchable thing. Its well past time we start cracking down on it. Taxed just like everyone else. I would say tax just the mega churches but then they would just break into smaller churches and use whatever fraud they could use to legally but shadily make it look like they aren't a mega church anymore. When you can afford a mansion and jets etc as a pastor or priest whatever you are not only ripping your church members off but you are ripping America off.

 

[Roudy]

this idea was floated around a few years ago by the left. The said it wasn't an attempt to destroy churches by cutting into their revenue. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Why not remove the tax exempt status of mosque?

Yes, the Italians did it a long time ago.

 

[Cecilie1200]

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

Really? What government services are charities getting that are paid by income taxes? And conversely, what are charities ADDING to the community that businesses don't, which you are willing to do away with simply because you think it's "unfair" that people who make no profit aren't still charged as though they do?

Let's see

Roads, water, sewer etc etc are all public services provided by government agencies anyone and everyone who uses them should pay like everyone else

Being exempt from not only federal taxes but the myriad of state taxes means we are all paying for them

And like I said if they truly show zero profit any year then they will pay no income taxes will they?

There are a million and one ways to show zero profit and these tax exempt businesses have been taking advantage of them for way too long

Where the fuck do YOU live, that water and sewer are paid for by taxes, rather than by utility bills?

Roads are paid for by property taxes and taxes on gasoline. Last time I checked, non-profit organizations pay the same prices for gasoline in their vehicles that everyone else does. Most non-profits also pay property taxes. Whether or not they don't depends on the laws of their state and municipality, and what type of non-profit they are. For example, a Catholic-run emergency shelter for children would not pay property taxes, as an exchange for relieving the government of some of ITS obligation for running that service (yes, I know that governments still run emergency shelters for children. However, the existence of privately-run shelters expands the facilities available to them without expanding the government's expenses). Whether or not a church's property is taxed or not depends on what the property is and what use it is put to.

And like I said, why in the hell would you make a charity spend more time and money on accounting as though they're a for-profit that simply had a bad year, rather than tailoring their accounting to what they actually ARE, a charity that has no intention of "profiting"? What the fuck kind of logic is THAT? Should an organization that exists to provide housing for the homeless spend its money on accounting staff to produce profit-and-loss, income, and equity statements, etc. simply to show that it doesn't engage in any of that, or should it spend its money on housing the homeless? People already get outraged by charities that spend half or more of every dollar on "administrative costs", and you're suggesting that that should be increased, to what purpose? Simply so that YOU can love your rump roast, knowing that churches aren't "special"?

A lot of that is subsidized by other local taxes

Non profits are exempt from property and sales taxes both of which are paid into the general fund of a state to pay for services everyone in the state uses so they should pay as wellAnd by treating charities like every other business they would not have to jump through more hoops they would simply lose their special treatment and have to jump through the same hoops every other business does

Yeah, yeah, you say it wouldn't be any more trouble, so it just wouldn't be, because you say so. Can you substantiate any of it? No, it JUST WOULDN'T BE! We just stop calling them special! That's all it involves! Because I say so!

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

Really? What government services are charities getting that are paid by income taxes? And conversely, what are charities ADDING to the community that businesses don't, which you are willing to do away with simply because you think it's "unfair" that people who make no profit aren't still charged as though they do?

Let's see

Roads, water, sewer etc etc are all public services provided by government agencies anyone and everyone who uses them should pay like everyone else

Being exempt from not only federal taxes but the myriad of state taxes means we are all paying for them

And like I said if they truly show zero profit any year then they will pay no income taxes will they?

There are a million and one ways to show zero profit and these tax exempt businesses have been taking advantage of them for way too long

Where the fuck do YOU live, that water and sewer are paid for by taxes, rather than by utility bills?

Roads are paid for by property taxes and taxes on gasoline. Last time I checked, non-profit organizations pay the same prices for gasoline in their vehicles that everyone else does. Most non-profits also pay property taxes. Whether or not they don't depends on the laws of their state and municipality, and what type of non-profit they are. For example, a Catholic-run emergency shelter for children would not pay property taxes, as an exchange for relieving the government of some of ITS obligation for running that service (yes, I know that governments still run emergency shelters for children. However, the existence of privately-run shelters expands the facilities available to them without expanding the government's expenses). Whether or not a church's property is taxed or not depends on what the property is and what use it is put to.

And like I said, why in the hell would you make a charity spend more time and money on accounting as though they're a for-profit that simply had a bad year, rather than tailoring their accounting to what they actually ARE, a charity that has no intention of "profiting"? What the fuck kind of logic is THAT? Should an organization that exists to provide housing for the homeless spend its money on accounting staff to produce profit-and-loss, income, and equity statements, etc. simply to show that it doesn't engage in any of that, or should it spend its money on housing the homeless? People already get outraged by charities that spend half or more of every dollar on "administrative costs", and you're suggesting that that should be increased, to what purpose? Simply so that YOU can love your rump roast, knowing that churches aren't "special"?

A lot of that is subsidized by other local taxes

Non profits are exempt from property and sales taxes both of which are paid into the general fund of a state to pay for services everyone in the state uses so they should pay as well

And churches aren't special and by having laws on the books that gives special treatment to churches is a violation of the fist amendment

And by treating charities like every other business they would not have to jump through more hoops they would simply lose their special treatment and have to jump through the same hoops every other business does

In other words, "I don't hear any points, because I don't want to address them. I'm right, and no amount of proof will refute that, I'm just right and all I have to do is say so!"

We're done here. You can no more debate a bigot than you can debate a pig, and for the same reasons: they're not very bright, and they enjoy wallowing in their own muck too much to make them stop.

 

[Cecilie1200]

No business should be tax exempt even if that business is a charity

If a business truly is non profit then they need no special status they can file their taxes every year and show zero profit therefore pay no tax

By definition, charities AREN'T businesses.

But hey, you want to suck a bunch of money out of the Salvation Army to give to the federal government to fritter away? We'll send the homeless people to bunk at YOUR house.

If your objection is, "Ehrmagerd, the IRS has special administrative designations to allow them to keep track of who does and doesn't meet non-profit requirements, WE CAN'T HAVE NAMES FOR THINGS!" then you're not very bright.

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

They repay us with the work that they do in charities

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

That is the principle behind exemptions from property taxes, which are NOT extended to all aspects of non-profits, whatever myths Skull Pilot lovingly clings to.

 

[Skull Pilot]

No business should be tax exempt even if that business is a charity

If a business truly is non profit then they need no special status they can file their taxes every year and show zero profit therefore pay no tax

By definition, charities AREN'T businesses.

But hey, you want to suck a bunch of money out of the Salvation Army to give to the federal government to fritter away? We'll send the homeless people to bunk at YOUR house.

If your objection is, "Ehrmagerd, the IRS has special administrative designations to allow them to keep track of who does and doesn't meet non-profit requirements, WE CAN'T HAVE NAMES FOR THINGS!" then you're not very bright.

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

They repay us with the work that they do in charities

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

You might believe that I don't

 

[Skull Pilot]

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

Really? What government services are charities getting that are paid by income taxes? And conversely, what are charities ADDING to the community that businesses don't, which you are willing to do away with simply because you think it's "unfair" that people who make no profit aren't still charged as though they do?

Let's see

Roads, water, sewer etc etc are all public services provided by government agencies anyone and everyone who uses them should pay like everyone else

Being exempt from not only federal taxes but the myriad of state taxes means we are all paying for them

And like I said if they truly show zero profit any year then they will pay no income taxes will they?

There are a million and one ways to show zero profit and these tax exempt businesses have been taking advantage of them for way too long

Where the fuck do YOU live, that water and sewer are paid for by taxes, rather than by utility bills?

Roads are paid for by property taxes and taxes on gasoline. Last time I checked, non-profit organizations pay the same prices for gasoline in their vehicles that everyone else does. Most non-profits also pay property taxes. Whether or not they don't depends on the laws of their state and municipality, and what type of non-profit they are. For example, a Catholic-run emergency shelter for children would not pay property taxes, as an exchange for relieving the government of some of ITS obligation for running that service (yes, I know that governments still run emergency shelters for children. However, the existence of privately-run shelters expands the facilities available to them without expanding the government's expenses). Whether or not a church's property is taxed or not depends on what the property is and what use it is put to.

And like I said, why in the hell would you make a charity spend more time and money on accounting as though they're a for-profit that simply had a bad year, rather than tailoring their accounting to what they actually ARE, a charity that has no intention of "profiting"? What the fuck kind of logic is THAT? Should an organization that exists to provide housing for the homeless spend its money on accounting staff to produce profit-and-loss, income, and equity statements, etc. simply to show that it doesn't engage in any of that, or should it spend its money on housing the homeless? People already get outraged by charities that spend half or more of every dollar on "administrative costs", and you're suggesting that that should be increased, to what purpose? Simply so that YOU can love your rump roast, knowing that churches aren't "special"?

A lot of that is subsidized by other local taxes

Non profits are exempt from property and sales taxes both of which are paid into the general fund of a state to pay for services everyone in the state uses so they should pay as wellAnd by treating charities like every other business they would not have to jump through more hoops they would simply lose their special treatment and have to jump through the same hoops every other business does

Yeah, yeah, you say it wouldn't be any more trouble, so it just wouldn't be, because you say so. Can you substantiate any of it? No, it JUST WOULDN'T BE! We just stop calling them special! That's all it involves! Because I say so!

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

Really? What government services are charities getting that are paid by income taxes? And conversely, what are charities ADDING to the community that businesses don't, which you are willing to do away with simply because you think it's "unfair" that people who make no profit aren't still charged as though they do?

Let's see

Roads, water, sewer etc etc are all public services provided by government agencies anyone and everyone who uses them should pay like everyone else

Being exempt from not only federal taxes but the myriad of state taxes means we are all paying for them

And like I said if they truly show zero profit any year then they will pay no income taxes will they?

There are a million and one ways to show zero profit and these tax exempt businesses have been taking advantage of them for way too long

Where the fuck do YOU live, that water and sewer are paid for by taxes, rather than by utility bills?

Roads are paid for by property taxes and taxes on gasoline. Last time I checked, non-profit organizations pay the same prices for gasoline in their vehicles that everyone else does. Most non-profits also pay property taxes. Whether or not they don't depends on the laws of their state and municipality, and what type of non-profit they are. For example, a Catholic-run emergency shelter for children would not pay property taxes, as an exchange for relieving the government of some of ITS obligation for running that service (yes, I know that governments still run emergency shelters for children. However, the existence of privately-run shelters expands the facilities available to them without expanding the government's expenses). Whether or not a church's property is taxed or not depends on what the property is and what use it is put to.

And like I said, why in the hell would you make a charity spend more time and money on accounting as though they're a for-profit that simply had a bad year, rather than tailoring their accounting to what they actually ARE, a charity that has no intention of "profiting"? What the fuck kind of logic is THAT? Should an organization that exists to provide housing for the homeless spend its money on accounting staff to produce profit-and-loss, income, and equity statements, etc. simply to show that it doesn't engage in any of that, or should it spend its money on housing the homeless? People already get outraged by charities that spend half or more of every dollar on "administrative costs", and you're suggesting that that should be increased, to what purpose? Simply so that YOU can love your rump roast, knowing that churches aren't "special"?

A lot of that is subsidized by other local taxes

Non profits are exempt from property and sales taxes both of which are paid into the general fund of a state to pay for services everyone in the state uses so they should pay as well

And churches aren't special and by having laws on the books that gives special treatment to churches is a violation of the fist amendment

And by treating charities like every other business they would not have to jump through more hoops they would simply lose their special treatment and have to jump through the same hoops every other business does

In other words, "I don't hear any points, because I don't want to address them. I'm right, and no amount of proof will refute that, I'm just right and all I have to do is say so!"

We're done here. You can no more debate a bigot than you can debate a pig, and for the same reasons: they're not very bright, and they enjoy wallowing in their own muck too much to make them stop.

So it's your contention that non profits have fewer tax hoops to jump through than any other business?

Why don't you prove that?

 

[Timmy]

Churches arent charities . They may do some charity work but they ain't charities .

 

[hortysir]

By definition, charities AREN'T businesses.

But hey, you want to suck a bunch of money out of the Salvation Army to give to the federal government to fritter away? We'll send the homeless people to bunk at YOUR house.

If your objection is, "Ehrmagerd, the IRS has special administrative designations to allow them to keep track of who does and doesn't meet non-profit requirements, WE CAN'T HAVE NAMES FOR THINGS!" then you're not very bright.

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

Property taxes.....payroll taxes....sales tax....
Just a few taxes that come to mind that aren't contingent on income or profit

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

And all should be paid

Even churches and charities benefit from government services that we all have to pay for so they should too

They repay us with the work that they do in charities

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

You might believe that I don't

Go ahead and remove all charities and let government tend to all of our needs. We all know that's the goal of the Progs.
Then see how much more of your paycheck disappears

Sent from my Y538 using Tapatalk

 

[auditor0007]

this idea was floated around a few years ago by the left. The said it wasn't an attempt to destroy churches by cutting into their revenue. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Why not remove the tax exempt status of mosque?

There are two issues here. The first is that if you remove the tax exempt status of any religion, then you must do it for all religions. Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, and any other tax exempt religious organization would be affected. The second issue then becomes what is actually taxable. All religious organizations rely on donations to cover their operational costs. Should donations be taxed? The biggest issue is that most religious organizations don't really show profits, because almost everything that comes in goes right back out. There are exceptions, however, where some religious organizations bring in so much revenue that they are able to build massive buildings and purchase additional real estate that may not actually be necessary to the function of their organization. Now in those cases, I might be open to taxing some of that revenue, especially what would be considered capital gains in other cases.

 

[Coyote]

Do they tax churches in Muslim lands?

If so, then I see no reason...

... to grant mosques tax exempt status here..

Why should we do what they do in other countries?

 

[Arianrhod]

this idea was floated around a few years ago by the left. The said it wasn't an attempt to destroy churches by cutting into their revenue. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Why not remove the tax exempt status of mosque?

Just one mosque? Why don't you start with the Crystal Cathedral and the other mega-churches? They'd generate far more revenue...

 

[Coyote]

When the churches start paying $$ to the government, you've eliminated the separation of church and state. You do realize that, right?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.[1]

When the government exempts religions from laws it is violating the first amendment because laws that exempt religions from taxes are laws that respect the establishment of religion

There is no separation of church and state mentioned in the constitution

The government exempts non-profit organizations from taxes, because they DON'T MAKE A PROFIT TO TAX. You act like churches and religious organizations are the only groups who get that exemption. There are 1.5 million registered non-profit organizations in the US, according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS).

And it is only a "violation of the First Amendment" if they don't extend that exemption impartially to ALL religious organizations who meet the requirements.

No business should be tax exempt even if that business is a charity

If a business truly is non profit then they need no special status they can file their taxes every year and show zero profit therefore pay no tax

By definition, charities AREN'T businesses.

But hey, you want to suck a bunch of money out of the Salvation Army to give to the federal government to fritter away? We'll send the homeless people to bunk at YOUR house.

If your objection is, "Ehrmagerd, the IRS has special administrative designations to allow them to keep track of who does and doesn't meet non-profit requirements, WE CAN'T HAVE NAMES FOR THINGS!" then you're not very bright.

If they truly are non profit then they won't pay taxes will they?

There is no need for any special status

If you can't see that then you're the one who is not so bright

There is a need for a special status, and that is to protect religious institutions from government intrusion, just as it's important to keep religious intrusion out of the government - it works both ways for the protection of both.

 

[S.J.]

I prefer shutting them down altogether. They're nothing but recruitment centers for terrorists. Islam advocates murder and those who teach it do the same, therefore it should be outlawed.

Untrue. There really are peaceful Muslims in the world, just trying to live their lives like everyone else. Granted, most of them probably aren't fundamentalists, but they're out there. And if they're American citizens, then they have the same right to worship and exercise their freedom of religion as anyone else.

I'm sure there are probably members of the Satanic Church who don't engage in human sacrifice or animal sacrifice too. Should THEY be given tax exempt status as well and left alone to worship the way they see fit?

 

[waltky]

Mebbe we should get a share o'...

... some o' dat sharia financing.

 

[Kondor3]

The only way to withdraw nonprofit status from mosques while leaving it intact for other belief-systems is to withdraw legal recognition of the religious status of Islam.

 

[Coyote]

I prefer shutting them down altogether. They're nothing but recruitment centers for terrorists. Islam advocates murder and those who teach it do the same, therefore it should be outlawed.

Untrue. There really are peaceful Muslims in the world, just trying to live their lives like everyone else. Granted, most of them probably aren't fundamentalists, but they're out there. And if they're American citizens, then they have the same right to worship and exercise their freedom of religion as anyone else.

I'm sure there are probably members of the Satanic Church who don't engage in human sacrifice or animal sacrifice too. Should THEY be given tax exempt status as well and left alone to worship the way they see fit?

If they break no laws - why not?