Government deficit?

[Tavish]

Good ... All the more reason to lower my taxes.
and while we are are it, make the half of the country that pays zero federal taxes, but uses 90% of the services, pay their fair share.
.

Let's put churches to the top of that list. Why do they a free pass on taxes? Why do you get a write off for giving money to a church?

At least with churches there is a plausible way to pass it off as a charitable donation. I would rather someone get a write off for tithing their local church than a booster buying USC another player and writing that off.

[wrveres]

Good ... All the more reason to lower my taxes.
and while we are are it, make the half of the country that pays zero federal taxes, but uses 90% of the services, pay their fair share.
.

Let's put churches to the top of that list. Why do they a free pass on taxes? Why do you get a write off for giving money to a church?

At least with churches there is a plausible way to pass it off as a charitable donation. I would rather someone get a write off for tithing their local church than a booster buying USC another player and writing that off.

Hey now, students are people too. They have rights. Especially the Trojans. You cant have them driving around in a Yugo, you know?

Fight On!

[kab21]

Good ... All the more reason to lower my taxes.
and while we are are it, make the half of the country that pays zero federal taxes, but uses 90% of the services, pay their fair share.
.

Let's put churches to the top of that list. Why do they a free pass on taxes? Why do you get a write off for giving money to a church?

At least with churches there is a plausible way to pass it off as a charitable donation. I would rather someone get a write off for tithing their local church than a booster buying USC another player and writing that off.

Part of the problem is passing it off as a charitable donation. The bigger part of the problem is the abuse of the system. A big group from work was having lunch while visiting a supplier a couple of years ago and taxes came up. One guy commented about his big tax return and said that one reason was his tax advisor told him a large number that he could report as a donation but not set off the audit alerts. he then said who the **** gives that kind of money to a church. The Mormon at the table said 'I do'. Awkward.

[Tavish]

Part of the problem is passing it off as a charitable donation. The bigger part of the problem is the abuse of the system. A big group from work was having lunch while visiting a supplier a couple of years ago and taxes came up. One guy commented about his big tax return and said that one reason was his tax advisor told him a large number that he could report as a donation but not set off the audit alerts. he then said who the **** gives that kind of money to a church. The Mormon at the table said 'I do'. Awkward.

Sure, but if you suddenly make tithe taxable it will just mean then people will just start reporting donations to the Human Fund.

[Mookie4ever]

Charitable works sure. But I don't see the purpose behind a tax deduction for trying to convert new members. Some churches don't do any charitable work and they just prothelytize. Some make it central to their charitable efforts. I read about churches going down to Haiti after the earthquake and while the Red Cross was giving water and assistance the churches were trying to convert them.

Up here Greenpeace was required to split their activities for tax purposes. Charitable works are undertaken by one arm of the group and the political activities are undertaken by another and they have to keep separate finances if they want to do work for which there is a tax write off. Why can't churches do the same?

[Dan Lambskin]

Charitable works sure. But I don't see the purpose behind a tax deduction for trying to convert new members. Some churches don't do any charitable work and they just prothelytize. Some make it central to their charitable efforts. I read about churches going down to Haiti after the earthquake and while the Red Cross was giving water and assistance the churches were trying to convert them.

Up here Greenpeace was required to split their activities for tax purposes. Charitable works are undertaken by one arm of the group and the political activities are undertaken by another and they have to keep separate finances if they want to do work for which there is a tax write off. Why can't churches do the same?

because any politician who tried to push that kind of reform would never get (re)elected

[RedHopeful]

Charitable works sure. But I don't see the purpose behind a tax deduction for trying to convert new members. Some churches don't do any charitable work and they just prothelytize. Some make it central to their charitable efforts. I read about churches going down to Haiti after the earthquake and while the Red Cross was giving water and assistance the churches were trying to convert them.

Up here Greenpeace was required to split their activities for tax purposes. Charitable works are undertaken by one arm of the group and the political activities are undertaken by another and they have to keep separate finances if they want to do work for which there is a tax write off. Why can't churches do the same?

Come on Mook, you know the religious majority would never stand for such logic. Wouldn't be God's way - longest precedent that I can think of actually.

[kab21]

Sure, but if you suddenly make tithe taxable it will just mean then people will just start reporting donations to the Human Fund.

I was talking about charitable donations in general and used used tithing as an example.

[knapplc]

Charitable works sure. But I don't see the purpose behind a tax deduction for trying to convert new members. Some churches don't do any charitable work and they just prothelytize. Some make it central to their charitable efforts. I read about churches going down to Haiti after the earthquake and while the Red Cross was giving water and assistance the churches were trying to convert them.

Up here Greenpeace was required to split their activities for tax purposes. Charitable works are undertaken by one arm of the group and the political activities are undertaken by another and they have to keep separate finances if they want to do work for which there is a tax write off. Why can't churches do the same?

The two key words here. "Up here" is a very different story than "down there." What works for you folks doesn't work for Americans, the French, the English, the Germans, blah blah blah applesauce.

There is nothing wrong with what Canada does with charitable organizations. But you cannot expect everyone to do it. Even if it is logical and sane.

[AussieDodger]

There is nothing wrong with what Canada does with charitable organizations. But you cannot expect everyone to do it. Even if it is logical and sane.

Two words you wouldn't apply to American policy makers