Should God pay income tax ?

Discussion in 'Religion' started by Willamina Tyndale, Nov 4, 2017.

  1. Willamina Tyndale Registered Member

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    Religion takes in millions of dollars every year and pay no taxes.
    Should the government change the law and tax that income for the benefit of all ?
     
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  3. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    Unequivocally yes. Start with Scientology and in Australia a piss weak version Hill Song which still rakes in millions

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  5. timojin Valued Senior Member

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    Who does not pay taxes ? the priests and ministers ?
     
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  7. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    The Church.
     
  8. timojin Valued Senior Member

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    Be specific , churches have employee ,they pay tax
     
  9. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    The church is a business and no tax paid there

    Biggest con ever Scientology. Practices quasi medical / religious procedures, pronounces quasi medical / religious treatments. Pays no tax on profits

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  10. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    Corporations have employees who pay taxes. Corporations pay taxes too.
     
  11. Ivor Bigun Registered Member

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    Yes yes yes. Good point Michael.
     
  12. Ivor Bigun Registered Member

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    In a company, such as Google, the employees pay tax on their income.
    The company is regarded as a separate entity in law and also pays tax.
    If you study the accounts of Google, you will find the profit is taxed.

    Similarly, the religious organizations are regarded as separate entities in law.
    But they don't pay tax.
    Why?
     
  13. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    12,451
    No shareholders and no dividends by which profit is extracted from the enterprise, presumably. A bit like private schools. What Americans call a not-for-profit setup. You could tax them, but as they don't exist to earn profits, they would offset any operating surplus from one year against operating losses from the next and the taxman might not get much, considering all the administration involved. And also of course, they have traditionally been seen as a public good, much to the annoyance of people such as yourself, no doubt.
     
  14. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    Of course they exist to earn profits

    Set up a not for profit (insert heart breaking worthy cause here)
    Rake in money from the public
    Blackmail the government for monetary support
    Release press statements to beat your own drum
    Remind the public there are soooo many others afflicted out there you could help if you had more money
    Pay yourself a large sum of money because of the good work you are doing

    The worthy cause does not make a profit
    because it's funneled into your bank account

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  15. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Might be true of Rev Moon and Scientologists but not of most religions. The average imam, rabbi or priest is not wealthy. The Church of England struggles to keep its churches from falling down.
     
  16. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    http://www.bbc.com/news/business-23467750

    A guide to the Church of England's huge investments

    The Church of England's investments are wide-ranging and complex.

    They range from pieces of woodland used for timber to investment strategies run by some of the world's biggest hedge funds, and stakes in big oil companies.

    The whole operation is overseen by an ethical investment advisory board designed to prevent the Church from funding any businesses seen as against Christian principles.

    Around £5.2bn of investments are managed by the Church Commissioners - a body charged with managing the Church's assets in order to produce money to support its work.

    Most of that - £3.25bn - is invested in securities - bonds and shares - both in the UK and abroad.
     
  17. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    And you are considered cheap because you put only 20cents in the collection plate

    Spare me

    The poor as a church mouse cry shouldn't work anymore

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  18. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    So what? It would be more relevant if you were to produce the annual income the church gets from these investments and compare it with its outgoings.

    The churches are still falling down, because the income from these investments, plus the donations they get from their congregations and other donors, is barely enough for the operating costs of the Church of England. So, I repeat, it is an observed fact that English vicars and curates are not driving about in limos with fat cigars and living off the fat of the land, regardless of what some Australians may think. They just aren't. You can read more here if you are interested: https://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/funding.aspx
     
  19. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Well for beginners, what you are trying to reflect re the chruch being poor is rubbish.

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    As per religious people, I'm not referring to the vicars or anyone else with their collars on back to front, I'm referring to the church per se. And really, why would "some Australians" think that?

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    The church needs to put on a front reflecting living somewhere near the poverty line. See also the Catholic church of which I think I am still a member, if I havn't as yet been excommunicated!

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  20. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    The last time I went to church, ( a long time ago) I put in a $10 note and extracted $9.50 from the plate, much to the disgust of the collector: So I gave him the finger.

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    That was before I got caught drinking the Altar wine with a mate...six of the best for that episode!!
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2017
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  21. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    Is that a comment on poor money management or a comment they pay shit wages?

    Like Starbucks rake in millions selling over priced coffee and pay shit wages

    Church doesn't even have to sell anything which actually exist
    Strangely they buy REAL real estate and not plots of clouds

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  22. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    They probably pickled the finger - put it on a red velvet cushion - displayed it as a holy relic of St Moolah at $20 a view

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  23. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Just read the link I sent you, try to park your prejudices for a moment and use your reason. Have you never tried to run a business, a club or a society? Do you think the church can run on thin air? If you can show me lots of instances of fatcat C of E clerics living it up I will share your disgust, but frankly I do not see it.
     

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