ATHEIST GROUP CLAIMS VICTORY, COUNTY BOARD VOTES TO END SPECIAL SALARY TAX EXEMPTION FOR MINISTERSMembers of the clergy will now be paying salary taxes just like everyone following a vote last night by officials in Boone County, KY.Two years ago, attorney Edwin Kagin — National Legal Director for American Atheists — filed suit to challenge a local practice which exempted ministers, priests, rabbis, mullah’s and other clerics from complying with state law, and being taxed the same 0.8 percent as everyone else who works for a living. Kagin cited the Kentucky State Constitution which forbids any direct or indirect public aid to religious sects, or the payment of salaries for the clergy.”The tax exemption clearly favored religion over non-religion, and elevated members of the clergy to a special position where they didn’t have to shoulder their fair share of the tax burden,” said Kagin. “This levels the playing field and complies with our both of our state and federal constitutions.”One Boone County official court, Judge-executive Gary Moore, said he disagreed with the statute.”I would not normally vote for this,” Moore told the Kentucky Enquirer, “as much as I disagree with it.” But he said he would comply with the state law. Moore added that he told a delegation of ministers about the change, and that “They seem to understand it, not happy about it.”Mr. Kagin said that officials should have been abiding by the constitution two years ago, obviating any need for a lawsuit. “This is what American Atheists does, though, as a First Amendment watchdog group. We find statutes like this being ignored in communities throughout the country. Officials comply only when you threaten to take them to court.”"We’re pleased with the outcome, and that Boone County will be treating all citizens equally, and not waste taxpayer money defending an unconstitutional practice.”AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.
You mean people can’t write “Priest” or “Rabbi” as their occupation on their tax forms as an excuse to get out of paying their taxes anymore?
Tisk…tisk…
Now Dave…be clear…
This was a “local” practice and obviously was wrong.
ALL ministers are considered to be “self employed” and are subject to the 17% self employment tax…
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p517/ar02.html#d0e451
Dave…how much tax does AA pay…?
How much tax does Ellen pay on her 38,000.00 salary…?
What’s your compensation from AA and what taxes do you pay…?
Cool, can I write that I’m an AA-member on my tax forms in order to dodge taxes, Dave?
10 years of activism. Zero Pay. I volunteer for this job because I believe in it. I am a self-employed business broker, and I pay every penny I owe.
Quantum. Tried it. No.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave,
Thanks for the laugh. I needed that. While I am at it, thank you for your volunteerism. AA is a better organization due to your efforts.
Congratulations AA!
And the troll gets pwned again. Rudely demanding to know people’s income and using innuendo to imply they are tax cheating hypocrites. Is that really what Jesus would do? Where’s that external moral compass gone?
So does housing owned by the religious organisation for the use of its clergy incur any taxes in the States?
Things like, is the rent that would have been paid added to the cleric’s income as a taxable benefit? I assume no property taxes are collected.
This is a fantastic beginning.
Zero…? So Dave…AA doesn’t give you ANY funding whatsoever…? You pay all of your travel expenses…?
Of course anyone can say anything online…and those weak minded individuals will believe it all…
Tell you what…our church would open their books to anyone for review…
Will AA…?
You also left Ellen out of the discussion…what kind of taxes or benifits does she pay…?
Phreedum is wrong again. This was taken to court and clergy are employees of whatever religious organization employs them. Furthermore, they are allowed to take a one-time religious exemption from paying wage taxes on social security and medicare. The clergy are usually induced to do this early in their career when their wages are extremely small. Then when they get older and want to retire, they have nothing to support them and the religious organizations lobby Congress to grant them amnesty and give them our wage taxes for their old age. (Source: the NYTimes series of articles on religious organizations and tax breaks earlier this year)
Zero…? So Phreedm…you’ve never EVER jerked off…? Not even once…?
Of course anyone can say anything online…and those weak minded individuals will believe it all…
Tell you what…I’ll stop using these [...] because its annoying…
Will you…?
You also left your parents out of the discussion…how many times did they “get it on” before your wonder personality was born…?
Speaking of “weak minded individuals” . . . a certain name rises to the surface . . .
. . .
Hey jackass,
AA is a non profit, their 990 is available for free. Get off your lazy ass and do something instead of the usual bitching.
I’m glad to see my local area (I live right next to Boone County in KY) doing something RIGHT for once and supporting this state (and the countries) federal law. I hate how these religious sects feel they need to be exempt from taxes, especially churches. I’m just glad now their making clergy’s pay taxes just like everyone else in the area I live in…
Now they just have to remove the Creation “Museum” from Boone County and we’ll be set…
Is it just me or is … contagious?
KnowledgeIsPower
Masturbti*n is very important to prostate health. See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm
KnowledgeIsPower,
Whatever are you talking… about?
Comment from: Peter
So Pete…I’m wrong? You mean the IRS is wrong?
Oh…wait. You’re “quote”(without a link) is from the NY Times…
Yeah…they’ve been a reliable source for the truth over the past few years…
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E1DB123FF932A25756C0A9659C8B63
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/06/05/nytimes.resigns/
Only 18 responses and Dave lists another thread in the middle of the day…?
Hmmm…Dave, will AA open their books to anyone who wants to look at them…???
Phreaky gets his news from Fox where he can dial-in just the right ignorance level for his needs.
American Atheists books are open, for all to see if they care to do the work, as according to law. Phreedm obviously does not care to do the work. Insidious innuendo is her tactic.
I’m also a minister, a Humanist Celebrant, and any income I receive in return for my services is taxable income, e.g. if I perform a marriage ceremony and either charge for it or only accept a “tip”, I still must legally claim that income on both my federal and state tax return forms.
Whether I’m doing my usual occupation or any of my sideline businesses, I am still working and am subject to income tax. Performing a marriage ceremony and being paid for it, or delivering a Humanist address to some group and being paid to do so, is an income-generating occupation, and I am subject to taxation thereby. This is as it should be.
But should religous institutions themselves be taxed? I’m not so sure. Taxation, after all, demands representation. Do we really want the Religous Right (or any of the myriad other fringe non-profit groups) accorded any voice in our government at all? I know I don’t want them to have that voice. However, as long as they paid appropriate taxes on ALL their assets, I’d grant them such a right. It’s only fair.
Celebrant Prince
But they do have a voice. I am not sure I understand how taxing them would give them more voice.
Comment from: Celebrant Prince
Call it what you will…but I don’t hear Dave or Ellen offering…
Reviewing a 990 is not the same as looking at the books…you know it, and I know it.
CP…since you’re so familiar with AA’s bookkeeping…tell me, why is schedule 7 missing from last years tax return?
good work mr. kagin,david and the others at AA.
phreedm
pal you just don’t get it.strict separation of church/state benefits christians just as much as atheists.without it there would be no baptists and so on.your free to practice your view of christianty because of it.you don’t have to accept our view on supernatural to see this is good for you too.or maybe you do get it an you don’t believe in religious liberty.so which is it liberty or theocracy ?
Hey girl. Get a job. Or at least a life. You have way too much time on your hands and nothing worthwhile to do.
I don’t know anything about American Atheists and a “schedule 7″. Why should I? I’m not even a member of AA, let alone able to speak for them. It’s not of any importance to me, but I’ll bet if it’s of any importance at all then the IRS will show an interest in it.
What’s a schedule 7, eh, precious? Is it crunchy, is it munchable? Gollum, gollum.