What do you think would be the most effective way to tax religions?
Assets and income -- whatever they hold of value and make it retroactive back over the last 300 years and even that's less than what they owe.
They need to be taxed on all money that does not go directly to helping others. And, by "helping" I mean feeding, clothing, provided shelter, substance abuse programs etc --not missionary work in which the goal is to proselytize and convert . No one should be required to attend a sermon in order to be helped. If they don't like that, then they can pay taxes.
Tax them into the stoneage since that is where they seem to insist we should live like we did back then.
Taxed heavily...
The idiotsy needs controlled...
I pay property tax and they can too.
You also pay a tax on income minus expenses you can legally deduct.
All of the above except the "monster" part........
If the congregation tithes to the churches, the churches in turn tithe to the government that makes it possible for them to exist openly. If the churches own property and buildings, the churches pay on those properties just as all others do.
If they have a legitimate charity, that charity can be exempt just as any other legitimate charity. There is the rub. The majority of the ministries they claim to be charitable/nonprofit are cover operations for other things. That brings to mind another pet peeve: Outreach missions done to spread their particular brand of religion should be subject to taxes because they too are covers.
Ministers/priests/rabbis/imams/etc. should be paid a living wage by their congregations and the congregations should be subject to the same employment regulations as any other business employing anyone to provide a service/product. The ministers/priests/rabbis/imams/etc. should also be subject to income tax just as is everyone else. They should not be able to operate as independent contractors.
The list goes on, and a single choice from your voting selections won't cover it all. Too bad we can't offer the option of multiple choices.
I like all three!
@LucyLoohoo I voted all three
Profits/ bookkeeping can be manipulated. And is manipulated. (That's why I prefer a "Fair Tax" (vat) to the crazy tax system we have now)
So tax the property as they are given public services just like any other business: police & Fire protection, streets, snow plowing, and infrastructure are some of what they recieve
I get taxed on my property And my income, as do most people, why should they be any different...your choices are too exclusionary.
The fact that they don't should be criminal! It is just a Business like many others
They should simply be subject to the same laws as all other business's with the same rights and responsibilities.
Actual charitable exceptions may still apply but NOT the right to hide their accounts nor to use the charitable status of parts of their institutions as a tax avoidance measure for the whole organization.
The tightening or abolition of the use of the Corporation sole tax loophole needs also to addressed in its application religion and religious institutions.
In short churches and religions should be stripped of any special status and treatment in matters of finance.