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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 04:07 PM Jun 2018

Republican tax law hits churches

Source: Politico




Trump’s Tax Cuts for the Rich Impose a Hidden Tax on Faith-Based Orgs – the Religious Right Is Furious

Some nonprofits could start paying taxes for the first time.

By BRIAN FALER 06/26/2018 05:05 AM EDT

Republicans have quietly imposed a new tax on churches, synagogues and other nonprofits, a little-noticed and surprising change that could cost some groups tens of thousands of dollars.

Their recent tax-code rewrite requires churches, hospitals, colleges, orchestras and other historically tax-exempt organizations to begin paying a 21 percent tax on some types of fringe benefits they provide their employees.That could force thousands of groups that have long had little contact with the IRS to suddenly begin filing returns and paying taxes for the first time.

Many organizations are stunned to learn of the tax — part of a broader Republican effort to strip the code of tax breaks for employee benefits like parking and meals — and say it will be a significant financial and administrative burden.

It also means political peril for lawmakers, many of whom were surely unaware of the provision when they approved the tax plan. Churches’ tax-exempt status, in particular, has long been considered sacrosanct and Republicans are relying on the faithful to back them in the November elections.



Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/26/republican-tax-law-churches-employees-670362





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Republican tax law hits churches (Original Post) DonViejo Jun 2018 OP
Render unto Caesar, gentlemen. sandensea Jun 2018 #1
Womp, womp. nt theophilus Jun 2018 #2
So "fringe benefits" does not include salaries fleeced from duped donors? Only stuff like parking? dameatball Jun 2018 #3
Exactly! mountain grammy Jun 2018 #6
Would golf course vacations be considered a fringe benefit? dameatball Jun 2018 #11
Ha, that's a good one.. mountain grammy Jun 2018 #20
I don't really care. Do u? Initech Jun 2018 #4
Ha!! Perfect Thekaspervote Jun 2018 #14
finally something positive from the tax reform AlexSFCA Jun 2018 #5
So, when a pastor buys a new jet or mega mansion NewJeffCT Jun 2018 #7
No, it counts as church property jmowreader Jun 2018 #15
'many of whom were surely unaware of the provision when they approved the tax plan' elleng Jun 2018 #8
Can I say nycbos Jun 2018 #9
...the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Goodwill Industries, the YMCA and the National Council of Nonp riversedge Jun 2018 #10
Glad the Repub are against over regulation. Oh wait, only for some things....like air. dameatball Jun 2018 #12
Look out "prospertity ministers"! BumRushDaShow Jun 2018 #13
"a broader Republican effort to strip the code of tax breaks for employee benefits like parking ..." DBoon Jun 2018 #16
Boo effing hoo Liberalagogo Jun 2018 #17
These mega Rebl2 Jun 2018 #18
Yeah, Freedom From Religion BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #19
O.K. - I'll give a kudo to the Repukes for that packman Jun 2018 #21
The law includes non profits like the Boys clubs etc. More examples in the article. Some of these riversedge Jun 2018 #22

NewJeffCT

(56,829 posts)
7. So, when a pastor buys a new jet or mega mansion
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 04:13 PM
Jun 2018

would that count as benefits that they get from the church?

elleng

(131,085 posts)
8. 'many of whom were surely unaware of the provision when they approved the tax plan'
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 04:14 PM
Jun 2018

Guess trump's not the only one who doesn't read.

riversedge

(70,299 posts)
10. ...the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Goodwill Industries, the YMCA and the National Council of Nonp
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 04:16 PM
Jun 2018

what a nightmare!

Many nonprofits say they are confused over how exactly the tax is supposed to work.

Churches and other groups want to know how they are supposed to go about calculating the value of things like parking spaces for employees. Some wonder if the garages provided as part of clergy residences are now taxable.

Other nonprofits have their own questions.

Universities want to know if the bus services they provide for faculty and students are taxable and how they figure out how much they owe. Orchestras want to know how to treat musicians who may perform in different locations.

“At what point is something a travel reimbursement? And at what point is it a commuter benefit?” said Heather Noonan, vice president for advocacy at the League of American Orchestras.

Treasury is now working on regulations spelling out the details of how the tax will work, though the groups are supposed to have already been paying the tax. It took effect Jan. 1 and nonprofits are supposed to pay it quarterly.

A host of groups, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Goodwill Industries, the YMCA and the National Council of Nonprofits are demanding the tax at least be delayed, saying it is unfair to ask them to be paying a levy they don’t understand.

Earlier this month, Rep. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) introduced legislation to kill the tax.

BumRushDaShow

(129,425 posts)
13. Look out "prospertity ministers"!
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 04:25 PM
Jun 2018

Will those planes or mansions or high-end cars be considered a "fringe benefit"?

DBoon

(22,397 posts)
16. "a broader Republican effort to strip the code of tax breaks for employee benefits like parking ..."
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 05:10 PM
Jun 2018

Can't let workers get tax breaks. Have to to reserve those for wealthy investors.

Rebl2

(13,549 posts)
18. These mega
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 08:39 PM
Jun 2018

churchs should have always been taxed. We have one in the Kansas City area that has multiple churches around the metro area. If they can afford to build multiple churches and buy a million dollar organ, they can afford to pay taxes.

BigmanPigman

(51,626 posts)
19. Yeah, Freedom From Religion
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 10:01 PM
Jun 2018

gets my donations! That is money well spent. Keep religion and politics separate.

 

packman

(16,296 posts)
21. O.K. - I'll give a kudo to the Repukes for that
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 10:34 PM
Jun 2018

I wish they (and that includes Dems) had done it long ago.

riversedge

(70,299 posts)
22. The law includes non profits like the Boys clubs etc. More examples in the article. Some of these
Wed Jun 27, 2018, 12:23 PM
Jun 2018

community organizations are running on shoestring budgets as it is. It is these small community minded places that are going to gt hit hard.

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