“IRS Provides Relief for Victims of Hurricane Harvey: What to know about this tax-free assistance.” Elaine Sommerville describes the relief on ChurchLaw&Tax here.
Category: taxes
Book review: “Zelinsky, ‘Taxing the Church'”
Book review: “Zelinsky, ‘Taxing the Church'” Marc O. DeGirolami at Law and Religion Forum has a brief review the upcoming book Taxing the Church: Religion, Exemptions, Entanglement, and the Constitution here. The book will ship on September 27 and is available in hard copy here ($65). The book will be available from Amazon starting December 1 here.
“Clergy Financial Resources has an overview answer to the question”
“Can Clergy Deduct Moving Expenses?” Tips and criteria from @clergyfinancial.
Clergy Financial Resources has an overview answer to the question here.
Ind. Ct. App: Indiana RFRA doesn’t exempt taxpayers
The Indiana Court of Appeals has held that Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not provide a conscientious exemption to paying taxes. The court reasoned that the state has a compelling interest in a uniform taxation system. The case is Tyms-Bey v. State, No. 49A05-1603-CR-439 (Ind. Ct. App. Jan. 13, 2017). Continue reading “Ind. Ct. App: Indiana RFRA doesn’t exempt taxpayers”
Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing
The Seventh Circuit unanimously rejected a challenge to the parsonage exemption brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, concluding that the Wisconsin-based, nontheistic group lacked the legal ability to challenge the statutory exception granted to “minister[s] of the gospel.” Because the Seventh Circuit concluded the plaintiffs did not have standing, it did not reach the question of whether the parsonage exemption runs afoul of the First Amendment. The opinion reverses a decision of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin that held the provision unconstitutional as violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (You can listen to the very interesting oral argument here.*)
Continue reading “Seventh Circuit holds challengers to parsonage exemption lack standing”