The 71,000,000,000 dollar a year question:
Should the U.S. tax churches?
I think any charitable, non-profit activities and properties should be tax exempt the same as any secular l organization.
All other assets should be taxed as a business.
Thoughts?
I agree. What I do not agree with is the pastor, rabbi, or imam putting the donation in his or her pocket. Kenneth Copeland is reportedly worth 750 million dollars! This is insanity plus. He should be limited to a salary, anything over that should go to charity.
Simple solution. Tax every religion as a business on every bit of currency they receive and back date the tax on their property and holdings. Then if their God turns up and proves it exists then give that religion a backdated refund.
Currently There is a distinct difference between churches and Non-profits... Regular Non-profits have to prove they are non-profit by filing papers with the IRS. Churches that have been historically recognized Do NOT!
Basically a church can claim to be charitable but there is absolutely no mechanism for enforcing this. If you forced churches to have the same requirements as other charity organizations then I would be likely to agree.
Tax the churches and don' tlet them get into politics.