Italy Plans to Tax Church on Commercial Property

[Judi Lynn]

Italy Plans to Tax Church on Commercial Property
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: February 16, 2012

ROME — Over the years, the Italian government has quietly passed scores of laws that benefit the Roman Catholic Church, but it is rare for it to issue a public statement announcing it intends to strip the church of privileges.

The government of Prime Minister Mario Monti took that step on Wednesday, telling the European Commission that it intends to change Italian law to ensure the church pays property tax on the parts of its buildings used for commercial ends.

The church owns vast amounts of property in Italy, and the move is aimed at making sure that convents that offer bed and breakfast or church buildings that rent space to shops pay their full share of taxes.

The change — once it is formally drafted and approved by Parliament — could result in revenues of $650 million to $2.6 billion annually, according to municipal government associations. It could also set an example for other debt-strapped European countries — most notably Greece and Spain — where there is growing popular resentment over tax breaks for the church.

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/world/europe/italy-sets-tax-on-church-property.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[Richardo]

1. Great idea.

If the Church is profiting from a commercial property, they should be taxed. They can still be exempt for places of worship and residences.

[SemperEadem]

2. it's about time they paid some tax

the welfare given to churches in the form of no taxation is obscene.

[MADem]

3. Why not? I think this is appropriate. nt

[Firebrand Gary]

4. Good for Italy!

I am all for it.

[closeupready]

5. Fine with me. K&R

nt

[glinda]

6. Seems fair enough.

[Sherman A1]

7. Indeed

it most certainly does.

[LarryNM]

8. Agreed. No Reason Not to do This. n/t

[FailureToCommunicate]

9. "You want to do WHAAAT??!!???"

[mopinko]

10. rahm is making them pay for water.

they are apoplectic. (not just the church, bunch of non-profits get free water and sewer.)

[RayTy]

11. when can we start?

i wont hold my breath...

[happyslug]

12. In every state that I know of, the state already does

Italy wants to tax COMMERCIAL parts of Church Property and that has been the law for decades in the US. Italy will NOT tax churches or other church owned property NOT used for commercial purposes, the same as current US rules.

[Xithras]

16. The U.S. has done this pretty much forever.

Churches and parish houses aren't taxed, but property belonging to churches that is subleased or used commercially is already subject to taxation in every state I'm aware of. Religious exemptions for taxes generally only apply to properties that are actually used for religious purposes.

There's also a huge difference between the U.S. and Europe on the actual impact of this type of taxation. In Europe, a millenia and a half of religious power-brokering has left the churches with ownership of a lot of land. Most of that land is simply rented back out to others, with the rent going to the church.

The churches in the U.S. never really had that kind of power, and own relatively little land outside of their actual church sites. The amount of money generated from this kind of taxation is tiny in the U.S. compared to the windfall Italy is pursuing.

[Yo_Mama]

24. We already do tax such properties

In every state, as far as I know. It goes by state law, obviously.

In the US tax exemptions for non-profits are purpose-based. If it is for a charitable, educational etc purpose, the property isn't taxed, but if it is for a commercial purpose, it is. Tax exemption is not by holder but by purpose.

[katty]

13. better really, really, really late-than never!

yay

[appleannie1]

14. Every country should do that.

[TBF]

15. And they ought to start looking at the "mega churches" in this country.

I have no problem with places of worship and their accompanying soup kitchens being tax free, but these huge organizations that are selling products etc... - all the commercial enterprise should be taxed.

[cstanleytech]

17. Makes sense to me.

[AnOhioan]

18. About friggin time...the church has amassed millions...now to tax actual churches :)

[crunch60]

22. Will Pat Robertson force us to tax Jesus?

Religion vs Politics .. Robertson's worth..200million to one billion dollars. Now that's a lot of mullah for a Man of God.

snip..
What Robertson failed to mention during his on-air tirades was the $8 million he had invested in Liberian gold mines. His constant concerns about the “Stability of Liberia” were all but altruistic. One might be crass enough to claim that Robertson’s religious status is more about saving money through tax exemption than souls through Gospel. I’d rather believe that his conscience simply makes him believe his actions are holy. Robertson also owns diamond mines in Rwanda



http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/avery/taxing_jesus_122104.htm

[valerief]

20. Why do Italians hate Jesus?

[SunSeeker]

21. Hallelua!

Wish we did that here!

[BlueMTexpat]

23. About time ...

so should we all.

[sarcasmo]

25. Way to go Italy. Now tax them on there charlatan profits.