Posted on 02/27/2010 10:12:15 PM PST by Steelfish
States Move To Revoke Charities' Tax Exemptions
Faced with steep declines in tax revenue, an increasing number of states and localities are considering eliminating various tax exemptions for nonprofit groups.
A bill before the Hawaii Legislature, for instance, would require charities to pay a 1 percent tax, and Kansas is considering making them subject to sales taxes. Revoking the nonprofit organizations' exemptions from property taxes is also under scrutiny in several counties in Kansas, as well as in Pennsylvania. And last fall, Minneapolis made charities subject to the fees it charges businesses and residents for streetlights in hope of gaining an additional $155,000, an exercise Jon Pratt, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, describes as "looking under the sofa cushions."
In most cases, churches would be exempt from the tax measures, but all other nonprofit groups, including private schools and colleges, would be affected. City and state officials say they have no choice. "We're having to look at the public services nonprofits use and how we can adequately cover those costs," said Matt Greller, executive director of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. "We can't give them away for free any longer." Nonprofit groups say the moves to wring revenue out of them are shortsighted and will produce cutbacks in critical services that governments rely on them to provide, like mental health and emergency foster care services.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
I think we should have special tax on unions.
So, how’s that hopey changey thing working out for you libs? :)
And a homeland security tax on muslims.
One question. Does this post mean I can't be given a tax exemption?
I move to revoke 0bama’s moslem privacy.
We should make him pray in the open, on his little prayer rug, at the feet of Soros.
While moslem children (jihadis in training) dance around him in a big circle, chanting “Mmm mmm mmm.”
I’d start with all of George Soros’ front groups.
“Everyone send me $100 buicks.”
Will you accept Chevys?
“We’re having to look at the public services nonprofits use and how we can adequately cover those costs,” said Matt Greller, executive director of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.”
Enlighten us. What public services do charities use?
This taxation craze is way out of control. So now the Salvation Army bell ringer is going to be forced to share his coins with the government. And I guess the kids that receive toys through Toys for Tots will have to share with the irs as well. This just aint right.
There’s a move on to remove the charity classification for Churches too....saw it on one of our out of this planet liberal nieces Facebook page...
“Enlighten us. What public services do charities use?”
Fire, police etc...
This is probably a good move... Along with the tax break comes the control by the government.
I would tax only busybody nonprofits, such as the American Cancer Society, which advocates smoking bans.
Why? In many cases churches acquire prime commercial real estate, many times from member donations, thereby removing such property from the tax rolls, and sometimes diminishing some small towns' financial income. I think that a fair and balanced approach would be to allow church tax exemption for the actual worship site property, with all other properties and businesses having to pay their fair share. As it is currently, church employees in one state that I am aware of, do not have any unemployment insurance, because the church is exempt from buying into the state unemployment insurance system.
They could privatize those services. The charities wouldn't get the services for free then, the services would cost the public less, and the government wouldn't have to pay the administration costs.
PeTA; Sierra Club? NAACP; Rainbow Coalition? These a D’rat fronts.
You’ve have hit on one of my not so favorite issues. Churches (some) have extremely large investment portfolios. Which produce tax free income, but also allow the church to vote in the shareholders meeting. They have a voice in election of directors as well as attempting to pass policies that impact the companies. I have always viewed this as a misuse of donated funds.
What about fire, police, street maintenance, and EMS for starters? (if they have a physical address).
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