Incorporated Churches BEWARE.

Nope, the government says "you're not operating like a church, therefore you're not a church. Therefore, you no longer have automatic tax exempt status.

Calling oneself a church doesn't make one a church.

Another example: Jerry Falwell is pastor of a church. Thomas Road is a church, and as such is tax exempt. OTOH, his tv ministry was NOT a church. They had to file as a 501c-3 charitable organization.

Another example: The Salvation Army Church is a church. Salvation Army Charities (the folks with the red buckets) is a charitable org, not a church, and has 501-c3 tax exempt status as a charitable org.

So if a church decides to engage in non-church activities, it can, but if it wats to enjoy tax exempt benefits, it will need to file for a status based on the activities it conducts.

[ June 24, 2003, 06:44 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

Amen, Brother JohnV -- Preach it!

Does anybody beside me find the
theme of this topic IRONIC?

The topic title seems to favor a
disincorporated church to
escape government meddling.
But this topic exists on a government
regulated media subsidized by the
government (and well may come from
government subsidized home by
a government subsidized person ).

Disincorporated churches cannot
SAFELY disclose themselves so members
cannot post on the internet.
The internet is a PUBLIC place and
disincorporated churches are, well
PRIVATE.

 

Here the main reason for Incorporation.

To prevent liability falling on each and every member if a litigant is successful in suing the church.

Now if you want your church to be unincorporated that's fine with me since I'm not a member and cannot possibly share any of it's potential liability.

Our church is currently in the process of having to refile it's corporate papers with the Sec. of State's office. Our 50 year Status as a Benevolent Association expires on Jul 30.

Not once in the last 50 years has the Sec. of State's office tried to tell this church one thing it could or could not do.

You have confused two different animals.

Churches are incorporated under state law.

Churches are tax-exempt under IRS code.

 

A house of worship is not required to incorporate or file for tax exempt status in order to receive a tax exemption. However, this is true so long as a house of worship behaves like a house of worship. If such an organization makes its main goal political lobbying, campagning, and/or fundraising, then it ceases to be a house of worship, and would then be required to incorporate and file for a 501-c3 tax exempt status, if it wants to continue to enjoy a tax exempt status.

 

Hello, Mr Brick Wall, would you like to engage in a conversation?

 

No, you don't, not as long as you're not trying to take advantage of the tax shelter. Why is it so few people seem to be able to see the tie between those two things?

 

we had better watch the legislation coming from the UN through our more liberal members of congress. Mark my words, soon it will be illegal to stand against homosexual activities also.

 

I am trying to cause you to think about what we have done. This is conversation.


You're saying it's wrong for churches to incorporate. I couldn't disagree with you more. I would never belong to a church that was not incorporated. I also would not belong to a church that has a presbytery. Without these things, the pastoral staff has power without responsibility.

 

Just for additional information on this topic, a church is a non-taxable entity, not a tax-exempt entity. The government does not recognize a church as an entity and therefore there is no taxation because in the eyes of the government it does not exist. Once a church starts doing things such as having membership rolls, having member votes, etc., it is no longer a non-entity and non-taxable, it is acting like a corporation, and is declared an unincorporated association and is therefore liable for taxes (the government recognizes three types of entities, people, unincorporated associations, and corporations). In order for an unincorporated association to avoid paying taxes, it must incorporate and become 501C3, thus making it a corporation. It is taxable, but has been exempted from the tax by government definition.

Therefore, in order for a church to be taxable in the first place, it must do one of two things, either start acting like a corporation or actually incorporate (and then is made tax-exempt by the government and is revokable by the government).

1. Do not have membership roles, and the congregants will not be sued.
2. Title the property in the name of Jesus Christ and the church will not have to pay property tax (this has been done in many, many cases).

The church that is not incorporated is not trying to "get away" with anything, it is trying to get away from government control.

You see, that which the government creates, the government can destroy. Bob Jones University. Indianapolis Baptist Temple, et. al.

Jason

 

I'd sure hate to test this in court.

 

It's been tested in many counties, and through the AG's office of several states.

Jason

 

How to free your local church
from government interference:

1. quit collecting money.
The money is issued by the Government.
Control follows the money.

Once you quit #1, the other two are easy:

2. don't hire anybody to do
church work.
The people involved belong to the government

3. don't buy any land or property.
Don't have a house of worship.
the land belongs to the government.