Social Question

Blackberry's avatar

Do churches pay any taxes at all?

Asked by Blackberry (34104points) September 9th, 2011

We know churches don’t pay taxes, but there’s a lot of different taxes. Which do they pay, or not pay?

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8 Answers

WestRiverrat's avatar

They pay payroll taxes for anyone other than pastors. Pastors are considered self employed by the IRS, so they have to pay all the payroll taxes as well as the usual taxes.

If they sell things they are supposed to collect the appropriate sales taxes, in some states.

Hibernate's avatar

Depends on what taxes you are referring too. Some yes while most of them not.

incendiary_dan's avatar

Around here I think they have to pay property taxes, which is why the Catholic Church closed down a bunch of churches and sold them.

filmfann's avatar

The church itself has to qualify to be tax exempt. It is not easy to get that qualification. Lots of people get the idea they can just become a church, and pay no taxes. They are ill-informed idiots.

JLeslie's avatar

@incendiary_dan Really? I never heard of such a thing. A Catholic church paying property tax. I guess it varies by state? State law? I always thought churches were tax exempt. Now I am curious.

AstroChuck's avatar

Churches pay property taxes on leased property if specified in the lease.

dreamwolf's avatar

They better pay taxes. As far as I’m concerned they are just small businesses in the religious department.

JLeslie's avatar

@AstroChuck I never even thought of that situation.

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