Tax-The-Church

The other ministries are fine. But overseas witnessing shouldn`t be considered a charity

From that point of view, it is actually worse then a GM`s advertising because it is trying to sell you something that it might not be able to deliver

Yeah, there is the scam aspect to it - but even the proceeds of crime are taxable.

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Or what will happen to me? If my parents send me a check for Christmas, am I required by law to track down the IRS and give them that money? No. Why? Because it was a charity. As long as my parents and I pay taxes, in other words, what we legitimately owe, we are not required by law to pay a tax on that transaction. What are you talking about? The Lakers generate money. Its a business that extends much further than people on the court. People playing a pick up game of basketball make no money doing so. No money is involved. If there is, its considered illegal gambling. You are bordering on the absurd now.

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since when do "groups" need to pay taxes?

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You implied that as long as a group exists, they are to be taxed, whether or not any money is involved. If I run into a group of homeless people, am I required to contact the IRS so they can take a percentage of that charity?

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Single people are exempt from taxes? That's news to me.

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You said that groups, any group, is to be taxed.

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I already told you. They aren't selling anything.

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And you are still neglecting to give me an example. In one instance you offered, "salvation," which is patently absurd. You've offered nothing since. This will now be third time I ask what a witness is selling to its listeners. Members of organized ARE selling things, whether they call it paying dues or anything else. That much is certain. Its called "Racketeering" and its a serious offense. Excuse me? You said that any "organization" or "group" has to pay taxes.

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The members of the church are already "giving" away more money than you do who ONLY pays their taxes!

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LOL! How so? The citizens, church-going or not, pay their taxes. They are "giving" that money to the church/charity of their choice. It doesn't effect you in the slightest. You want to know who effects you? Its your own welfare state that coddles the lazy and demonizes the hard working. That's whose taking your hard earned money. In which case, take that up with your government.

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Church abiding citizens not only render to Caesar but pay beyond what they OWE. "Owe" being another operative word.

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You can't make blanket statements like that about all churches in the world. We all know that there are definitely some church leaders that immorally skim from the top. It doesn't take very long to catch those people in the act, nor does it take very long for their insatiable greed to not only corrupt their better judgement, but for them to do something illegal-- in which case law enforcement will handle them, but more importantly, God.

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Salvation can't be purchased. Its given, just like any charitable deed.

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You get an "A" for effort on trying to turn it around on me, but I've already quoted you. I asked what the church is selling in order for you to tax them. You responded, "Salvation?" If any church claims to "sell" salvation like those sharks on TBN, their going to be exposed. No one can grant salvation but God alone. I haven't shown you any significant difference? You haven't shown how they correlate. GM is a business. A church is a charity.

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If your parents send you a check for 100 dollars, should you claim that on your W-2?

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Gifts are taxable? Who gets taxed? The person receiving the gift or the person sending the gift or both? Why isn't fair when everyone gets taxed the same already? Again, all of the church's members already pay taxes. Why should they have the money they give taxed also, especially since nothing was purchased?

No, your parents giving you a gift is not charity. For @#$% sake, pay attention: I said that if you made money you would have to pay taxes on it the same as the Lakers do. The only difference between your organization and the Laker organization is the money. Similarly, if a church collects money, it should have to pay taxes on it the same as the Lakers do or GM does. Not at all. I said that any group that collects money should be taxed equally. Do you only read the first half of every sentence? And this is now the third time I'm answering: salvation, comfort, peace of mind.... Your patent on absurdity has expired. It is a sale whether you admit it or not. Yes, and I said that any legitimate charitable activities - e.g. feeding the hungry - should be exempt. Was I not clear enough about that? I can put it in the first half of the sentence if that will help. Of course it does. If the church-going citizens paid their share at church, the general tax kitty would be fuller and my share of the burden would be less. Simple math. It's the same as anybody else cheating on their taxes or shoplifting, etc. It effects all of us honest folks. Sure, and the church-going citizens should be paying their share of that burden at church. The skimming off the top that I'm talking about is money used for proselytizing. A church is not a charity. A church is an organization which may or may not undertake charitable activities. So is GM. No difference. Not the same as GM gets taxed. And so do GM's stockholders. Suppose GM changes their marketing plan: from now on, all cars are free - but they pass the offering plate. Are you seriously suggesting that "nothing is purchased"? Are you seriously suggesting that GM would be allowed to get away with not paying taxes if they pulled a scam like that?

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indeed (thus my point regarding oversight of charities that the church is not held to.