This is a question that's really worth asking in our society today, because our places of worship are gradually turning into a place of business, they now trade spiritual items, run many other kinds of business in the church and are expected not to pay taxes. Also, they generate money from donations, offerings and tithe, I get this goes for charitable courses in most churches, but for some there's no reasonable account on how these donations are spent.
Many institutions are expected to pay tithe and the religious places are being exempted, but they are running a business as well. I have attended most places of worship and I have seen how they make money from selling many items with the promises that this items will attract good things, they call them spiritual items and that's a business to me.
Recently, a friend of mine wore a beautiful bracelet and when I asked, she said it was gotten from her place of worship, what attracted me was the color of the rubber bracelet, and I asked out of curiosity if it was given to her for free in her place of worship, but she said she bought it, the price she mentioned for one could buy about four of the same rubber bracelet at market price, what was shocking to me was she said other items are being sold at high prices too , items that have spiritual significance, and they are all sold in the same church to members for high cost, so if I say that our place of worship is becoming a business place is because I have seen and heard many accounts of how items are sold at this places. And any spiritual place that runs businesses like this should be taxed too. They are running a business like every other institution out there.
I understand that not all places of worship run a business like this, not all spiritual places are financially wealthy and some use their money for charity, support their congregation, build and do other beneficial work in society.
Considering the business some place of worship runs , taxing certain aspects of their income isn't a bad idea. I understand donations, tithing, and offerings might be for certain purposes, but items sold in these places should be taxed, but applying the same tax requirements to all the spiritual places could place an unfair burden on smaller religious communities, a place of worship that doesn't run a business in the name of a spiritual place, and this is where the problem comes in.
This is where financial transparency comes in , this will help distinguish genuine charitable activities in these places of worship from commercial operations going on there. I can't include donations, offerings and tithe given, because these are funds given to the church out of kindness and are meant to be used for charitable assistance, to support vulnerable individuals, organize community programs, and contribute to the education and healthcare of state society.
If places of worship are being taxed, it will affect those that benefit from the charity that get from church more, affect the spiritual leaders and our more pressure on the congregation, because there would be an increase in donations and other ways their funds are being raised. The worshipers and the spiritual leaders will face a lot of pressure. Those who benefit will receive little or no help.
If religious institutions are to pay tax, it's very important to check what's taxable , because I believe donations, tithes, and offerings aren't taxable, but if there are other transactional businesses, those are taxable because it's clearly a transaction.
Incomes these places of worship generate through commercial activities could be treated differently and taxed by the government, but voluntary donations used for worship and genuine charitable purposes aren't meant to be taxed.
We can't overlook the role most of the places of worship play in our society and their charitable roles should not be overlooked too.