TAX the non-profits , like churches

[Zacha341]

I'll grant you that politics and race have been a factoid in the church. Let us look a bit of history for example: immediately following slavery the church served also as meeting place for African American's to gather as a community and even learn to read when/ where they could not attend school, provide social service etc. There is a wealth of information on the impact of the church in black community [[what success to have had them 'heavily' taxed - I suppose).

A fast wiki look scratches the surface:

After slavery was abolished, segregationist attitudes in both the North and the South discouraged and even prevented African Americans from worshiping in the same churches as whites. Freed blacks most often established congregations and church facilities separate from their white neighbors, who were often their former masters. These new churches created communities and worship practices that were culturally distinct from other churches, including unique and empowering forms of Christianity that derived from African spiritual traditions.

African-American churches have long been the centers of communities, serving as school sites in the early years after the Civil War, taking up social welfare functions, such as providing for the indigent, and going on to establish schools, orphanages and prison ministries. As a result, black churches have fostered strong community organizations and provided spiritual and political leadership, especially during the civil rights movement.

Churches have always had a subversive say in politics.
..and that's a large part of why they should be taxed heavily.

[Zacha341]

Not to mention the say in politics other NON-PROFIT 'non-religious' organizations which would comprise a very, VERY long list...........

Churches have always had a subversive say in politics.
..and that's a large part of why they should be taxed heavily.

[Wesley Mouch]

Churches have always had a subversive say in politics.
..and that's a large part of why they should be taxed heavily.

Nobody should be taxed heavily.

Everybody should be taxed responsibly.

Using tax laws to harm those you disagree with, or to benefit your friends... is bad policy and ultimately destructive.

The best tax law is simple and fair. Tax only individuals, not corporations [[including non-profits and churches). Provide a generous standard deduction, and absolutely no exemptions or other gaming. Then adjust rate to pay for actual expenditures.

But please, never think of tax policy as a weapon.

[Zacha341]

^^^ Exactly. Historically we know taxation, taxing policy and investigations therein by the IRS have leveraged against certain groups/ individuals.

And while it may be the group/ person you feel deserving that leverage, don't celebrate too heartily.

If it starts there, it will not end there!

The government rarely targets so precisely.

[Canadian Visitor]

Tax only individuals, not corporations [[including non-profits and churches). Provide a generous standard deduction, and absolutely no exemptions or other gaming. Then adjust rate to pay for actual expenditures.

But please, never think of tax policy as a weapon.

Corporations are then a tax-shelter, and one only available to those w/surplus cash, not the poor or the middle class [[by and large).

You can't say 'no exemptions' and then create a giant exemption called corporations.

The State should tax all income, by everyone, to everyone, from everyone no matter how its made, equally.

That means there should be no discounted tax rate for investing in a corporation.

If the tax rate on 'x' earnings is 35% and a corporation makes that much, then it should pay the exact same rate.

Further, there should be no accelerated depreciation, or other ability to offshore profits.

The result can be lower rates and higher exemptions for everyone.

I favour higher entry-level tax rates; but with the proviso that no one be taxed one plug nickel on their first $30,000USD in income [[ $40,000Cdn based on current exchange rates).

Also, abolish tax returns. Financial data should be reported to the relevant authorities automatically and taxed deducted at source. Proper software could allow the government to return any excess tax collected quarterly or at year end by direct deposit.

Lets lose the excess accountants.

[Zacha341]

^^^ Yes, I agree. Corporations should not have tax exempt status.

[oladub]

Nobody should be taxed heavily.

The best tax law is simple and fair. Tax only individuals, not corporations [[including non-profits and churches). Provide a generous standard deduction, and absolutely no exemptions or other gaming. Then adjust rate to pay for actual expeditures.

Section 8. Clause 1. The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

16th. Amendment [[income tax): The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

Import taxes used to play a much larger role in federal government revenue until Woodrow Wilson [[D) pushed through the 16th. Amendment. The federal income tax was first limited to 4% of income but evolved into what it is today. Income tax gradually transferred the tax burden from import corporations to the backs of the middle class thereby incentivizing importation.

"A century ago in 1912, American government ran on a weird mix of postage stamp sales, Panama Canal receipts, excise taxes on liquor and beer, business taxes, and especially tariff money. Tariffs, then averaging about 20 percent, provided about a third of the revenue. The largest chunk of tariff money – $90 million, or about 10 percent of revenue – came from taxation of imported clothes, shoes, and similar home goods."

Tariffs have since fallen to 1.7% of federal revenue while foreign made products, produced with cheaper foreign labor and resultant corporate profits have soared. I'm not against [[property) taxing churches for at least fire and police protection but it seems that a better place to raise tax money is to once again go after corporations who profit from hiring foreign labor at the expense of U.S. labor.