Well, I think they should. I am a religious person but believe that religions are really a business. I think they should pay taxes. We all Have to pay taxes....it is America.....I personally would love not to have to pay taxes....What about all of you......Just wondering with this one asking the question............
No cause simply under law they are charities. Charities don't pay taxes. Plus this whole separation of church and state thing. It completely taken out of context now. It was never written to keep religion out of government, but that what we use it for now. So if the government doesn't want anything to do with religion, why should they have to pay taxes to support them.
No, churches should have nothing to do with government but churches and synagogues should also change practices involving collection money and stuff like that.
There are some churches and places of worship that get over on this rule, but some of them don't.
Prohibited by First Amendment of Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The Founders has first-hand or recent historical experience with the State favoring some religion at the expense of others. Many colonists came to America specifically to get out from under government regulation of people's religion. In America, you don't have to pay off the Government to worship (or not) as you choose.
contrary to popular belief there is nothing in the constitution that says anything about church and state. This came latter with a loose and stretched interpretation of the first amendment and a series of lawsuits by atheists over petty issues like displaying the 10 commandments in a courthouse. Should they pay taxes? Sure then they can get deep into politics. Can you say Feudal Europe?
As well as private colleges and private schools...
Over the past 10 years, I've watched a local college take millions and millions of real estate taxes away from the local community by purchasing houses that immediately come off the tax rolls.
Then they rent out the houses for further income to the college itself...
There is nothing fair about Churches and schools NOT paying taxes
if they dint have business int rest that generate income for the church,NO the church its self should be tax exempt and the property they occupy.but only if the property is an operating church.other wise some enterprising people would buy realist ate and put a church on it to evade taxes.then when the value of the property increases they will sell for profit.There are a lot of churches that operate businesses and dint pay taxes and that's not right to do so,if they cheat on paying taxes then they are not a real church at all and place profits before GOD
I say no, simply because churches and synagogues and mosques and temples often pick up the slack when it comes to feeding the homeless and providing related needs that people can't get through governmental social programs. If they pay taxes, what will the taxes be used for? Those same things? I doubt it!
Perhaps in order to prevent corruption in setting up fake churches to beat taxes, they'd have to file with the IRS and demonstrate that they used at least the equivalent of what they'd pay in taxes for the purposes of providing for the poor.
Should churches and synagogues pay taxes? ?
