Do Pastors pay the income tax in U.S. and in Canada?

[Eliyahu]

As a so called Plymouth Brethren, I don't know about this as we don't have the pastors in the chapels but Elders and Deacons according to the Bible ( 1 Tim :3). But I notice there is a big issue in South Korea as they try to start imposing the income tax on the clergy, and Protestant Pastors are mainly the targets because Roman Catholic Priests are well provided with the housing and lifetime guarantee for the living and Buddhists have the hidden income. Now I want to know how is the practices in North America.
As far as I know the Founding Fathers of USA, they reflected the teachings of Ezra 7:24 which says:

Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

In the new testament era, we, all the Born Again Believers, are the priests ( 1 Peter 2:5-9, Rev 1:6, 5:10)
and our bodies are the Holy Temples ( 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). Therefore we are all priests ordained by God.
But on this world, there are many religions and we may have to negotiate or compromise with other religions.
Any taxation on the clergy may result in the discrimination against Christians.
I don't want the Christian Pastors are portrayed as the people resisting the taxation.

So, I want to know how are the practices here in North America.
Your comments will be appreciated.

Eliyahu

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Can't speak for Canada, but U.S. pastors most certainly pay taxes on their income.

 

[Bro. James]

Tax sheltering is an interesting subject, especially in the world of religion. The vatican seems to be the best at accumulation off wealth while preaching vows of poverty. Hush money payments have taken a serious toll as of lately. However, they are still in contention for being the best at filthy lucre.

The assets of Deseret, of Salt Lake LDS, make an interesting study in the net worth of the tax exempt.

Then there are the televangelists.

Invest in red ink futures.

Some one has got to pay the bills folks. Maybe we can sell defunct manufacturing facilities to the Chinese. Perhaps we could figure out how to get marijuana fumes in a spray can.

It all belongs to God. We will be giving an account of every dollar, worthless or not.

Even so, come, Lord, Jesus.

Bro. James

 

[Eliyahu]

Can't speak for Canada, but U.S. pastors most certainly pay taxes on their income.

Thank You ! for the comment

Eliyahu

 

[Eliyahu]

Tax sheltering is an interesting subject, especially in the world of religion. The vatican seems to be the best at accumulation off wealth while preaching vows of poverty. Hush money payments have taken a serious toll as of lately. However, they are still in contention for being the best at filthy lucre.

The assets of Deseret, of Salt Lake LDS, make an interesting study in the net worth of the tax exempt.

Then there are the televangelists.

Invest in red ink futures.

Some one has got to pay the bills folks. Maybe we can sell defunct manufacturing facilities to the Chinese. Perhaps we could figure out how to get marijuana fumes in a spray can.

It all belongs to God. We will be giving an account of every dollar, worthless or not.

Even so, come, Lord, Jesus.

Bro. James

Thanks for the comment.

Indeed, there are lots of advantages for RCC and other worldly religions. The born-again believers are simply paying the taxes.

Eliyahu

 

[Sapper Woody]

Legally, a lot of pastors don't report everything they are supposed to. But yes, they pay income taxes in the US.

Pastors are able to opt out of social security if they so wish. But once they opt out, they can never opt back in, and can never receive social security benefits.

To explain my first sentence, the way it was explained to me by a tax preparer, is that any form of income due to being a pastor/evangelist is supposed to be reported. And this includes tangible benefits that aren't actually money.

For instance, if one is bought a suit by a church, then they are supposed to report that. If they are provided a place to live, they are to report that.

That's how it was explained to me, anyway. If it is still that way, I believe it is a little overkill, and frankly, basically impossible to keep track of.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Squire Robertsson]

A few years back the law changed. They can opt back in but they need to get forty quarters of payment into the system.

But once they opt out, they can never opt back in, and can never receive social security benefits.

 

[Jerome]

As a so called Plymouth Brethren, I don't know about this as we don't have the pastors in the chapels but Elders and Deacons according to the Bible ( 1 Tim :3).

Huh? The word Elders does not appear in "1 Tim :3"

Anyway, what many churches do in the U.S. is pay out much of their ministers' wages as 'housing allowance' which escapes taxation.

Southern Baptist financial advisor bureaucrats explaining how it's done:

www.guidestone.org/housingallowance#51AD74B4D4F64FBAB236BBF8FBEB5AAB

 

[Rob_BW]

Huh? The word Elders does not appear in "1 Tim :3"

Anyway, what many churches do in the U.S. is pay out much of their ministers' wages as 'housing allowance' which escapes taxation.

Southern Baptist financial advisor bureaucrats explaining how it's done:

www.guidestone.org/housingallowance#51AD74B4D4F64FBAB236BBF8FBEB5AAB

That's pretty much what we do.

 

[Bro. James]

We may have to re-define what it means to be squeaky-clean honest. It also helps to understand: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There are none righteous not one." There is a blurry line between income tax avoidance and income tax evasion. This is not a problem if one has enough assets to hire the right tax lawyer. Has our C of C ever disclosed his 1040s?

It is interesting to see what happens when one submits a written confession for having used company pens, paper and copy machines for personal use--also making an offer of restitution.

The definition of sin seems to change with every generation. It is a sobering thought: we will be giving an account of everything we have ever done--with Caesar and with God. Our country is in serious need of real repentance. "Judgement must begin at the House of God." Now what?

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

[TCassidy]

Pastors are able to opt out of social security if they so wish.

Correct, but that option must be exercised within a fairly short time after ordination.

But once they opt out, they can never opt back in

They can't opt back in for past ministry earnings but all secular earnings can restart their Social Security.

and can never receive social security benefits.

They can receive benefits earned prior to opting out and for secular employment after opting out.

For instance, if one is bought a suit by a church, then they are supposed to report that.

But we can also receive a tax deductible clothing allowance.

If they are provided a place to live, they are to report that.

And we can also receive a tax deductible housing upkeep and furniture allowance.

 

[utilyan]

Thanks for the comment.

Indeed, there are lots of advantages for RCC and other worldly religions. The born-again believers are simply paying the taxes.

Eliyahu

https://www1.salary.com/Pastor-Salaries.html


What is the average annual salary for Pastor?

How much does a Pastor make? The median annual Pastor salary is $93,154, as of October 30, 2017, with a range usually between $76,557-$105,579, however this can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. Our team of Certified Compensation Professionals has analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to present this range of annual salaries for people with the job title Pastor in the United States.



The national average salary for a Catholic Priest is $33,420 in United States. Filter by location to see Catholic Priest salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Catholic Priest employees.

 

[Sapper Woody]

Correct, but that option must be exercised within a fairly short time after ordination.

They can't opt back in for past ministry earnings but all secular earnings can restart their Social Security.

They can receive benefits earned prior to opting out and for secular employment after opting out.

But we can also receive a tax deductible clothing allowance.

And we can also receive a tax deductible housing upkeep and furniture allowance.

Thank you for the clarification. I haven't been a pastor in a long time, and want making enough to worry about it when I was!

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Bro. James]

https://www1.salary.com/Pastor-Salaries.html


What is the average annual salary for Pastor?

How much does a Pastor make? The median annual Pastor salary is $93,154, as of October 30, 2017, with a range usually between $76,557-$105,579, however this can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. Our team of Certified Compensation Professionals has analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to present this range of annual salaries for people with the job title Pastor in the United States.



The national average salary for a Catholic Priest is $33,420 in United States. Filter by location to see Catholic Priest salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Catholic Priest employees.

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My reference was not about the salary of a priest. The reference is to the assets of the Vatican--gold, silver, paintings, books, property, stock investments and other tangible items which could be sold to help the poor.

Bro. James

 

[utilyan]

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My reference was not about the salary of a priest. The reference is to the assets of the Vatican--gold, silver, paintings, books, property, stock investments and other tangible items which could be sold to help the poor.

Bro. James

Sound just like Judas Iscariot.

John 12

3Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” 6Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. 7Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.8“For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”


All of which is priceless is because it is Catholic.
Catholic decides to paint a ceiling.....priceless ceiling.
In fact Catholic treasure is so good it draws income from all the tourism which pays for poor people.

We have been the longest standing charity. We have never heard of you guys.

You can feed every hungry person in the world right now, if you wanted to, SINCERELY.

Treating God like the most useless help is the problem not everyone having more money then you.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Ut., IFB pastors' salaries more or less track that of RCC priests, Further, they usually have wives and families to support. And a whole slew of them are bi-vocational.

 

[Eliyahu]

Legally, a lot of pastors don't report everything they are supposed to. But yes, they pay income taxes in the US.

Pastors are able to opt out of social security if they so wish. But once they opt out, they can never opt back in, and can never receive social security benefits.

To explain my first sentence, the way it was explained to me by a tax preparer, is that any form of income due to being a pastor/evangelist is supposed to be reported. And this includes tangible benefits that aren't actually money.

For instance, if one is bought a suit by a church, then they are supposed to report that. If they are provided a place to live, they are to report that.

That's how it was explained to me, anyway. If it is still that way, I believe it is a little overkill, and frankly, basically impossible to keep track of.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Thanks for the information.

Eliyahu

 

[Eliyahu]

Huh? The word Elders does not appear in "1 Tim :3"

Anyway, what many churches do in the U.S. is pay out much of their ministers' wages as 'housing allowance' which escapes taxation.

Southern Baptist financial advisor bureaucrats explaining how it's done:

www.guidestone.org/housingallowance#51AD74B4D4F64FBAB236BBF8FBEB5AAB

I have noticed the Housing Allowance is quite often mentioned.

My focus is whether the Law or the Practices of Taxation discriminate Protestant Christians compared to RCC or any local religions.

As for Elders, I believe the Episkope in 1 Tim 3:1 can be Presbutero ( Elder ) because, Apostle Paul called the Elders of
Ephesian Church ( Acts 20:17), then he told them < Holy Spirit has made you the Overseers to feed the Church of God> ( Acts 20:28) Peter also admonished the Elders to take the oversight of the flock of God ( 1 Peter 5:1-2). Also, the qualification of the Elders in Titus 1:5-9 are more or less the same as the Qualification of the Overseers ( Episkope ) in 1 Tim 3:1-7.
Apostle Paul mentioned Elder in Titus 1:5, then he point out Episkope in v 7.
Therefore the Plymouth Brethren believe the Elders which describes the status and title are the same as the Overseers which signifies the functioning.

Thanks for the Comments.

Eliyahu

 

[Eliyahu]

Correct, but that option must be exercised within a fairly short time after ordination.

They can't opt back in for past ministry earnings but all secular earnings can restart their Social Security.

They can receive benefits earned prior to opting out and for secular employment after opting out.

But we can also receive a tax deductible clothing allowance.

And we can also receive a tax deductible housing upkeep and furniture allowance.

Dr. Cassidy,

Thanks for the good information about the Social Security, other Allowances.

Eliyahu

 

[Eliyahu]

Sound just like Judas Iscariot.

John 12

3Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” 6Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. 7Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.8“For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”


All of which is priceless is because it is Catholic.
Catholic decides to paint a ceiling.....priceless ceiling.
In fact Catholic treasure is so good it draws income from all the tourism which pays for poor people.

We have been the longest standing charity. We have never heard of you guys.

You can feed every hungry person in the world right now, if you wanted to, SINCERELY.

Treating God like the most useless help is the problem not everyone having more money then you.

Thanks for the comments.

Indeed RCC do lots of charity as a religion of works.

But RCC is the richest religion in the world guaranteeing the welfare, Medi-care, education, retirement living, funeral, cemetery, etc. for the priests and staff.

Eliyahu