US churches* received an official federal income tax exemption in 1894, and they have been unofficially tax-exempt since the country's founding. All 50 US states and the District of Columbia exempt churches from paying property tax. Donations to churches are tax-deductible. The debate continues over whether or not these tax benefits should be retained.

Proponents argue that a tax exemption keeps the government out of church finances and thus upholds the separation of church and state. They say that churches deserve a tax break because they provide crucial social services, and that 200 years of church tax exemptions have not turned America into a theocracy.

Opponents argue that giving churches special tax exemptions violates the separation of church and state, and that tax exemptions are a privilege, not a constitutional right. They say that in tough economic times the government cannot afford what amounts to a subsidy worth billions of dollars every year.

There isn't a tax here either. In Germany the people are taxed and the money given to the church.
Frankly I think it creates an inequality.
You can in fact, get out of paying your house tax by declaring it a church. Some people have done it.

It's an unfair practice. I could do exactly as thenumberone has already stated, and declare my home a church to defer paying income taxes. Why should they get to remain tax exempt, especially when every other establishment has to? 

tornadocam : I've decided that my local circle K is a church, no more taxes because I don't want the government controlling the (insert anything), so from this day on, Circle K is the first church of polar pops!

tornadocam : That doesn't even make sense. 
1. Your churches exist here, so you do have to answer to the government. You can't just go around killing people in the name of god. All laws must be obeyed.
2. You could literally hire whomever you choose. 
3. You can marry who you want to (as long as you are not homosexual, because that's just wrong (sarcasm) ), being tax exempt has nothing to do with that. 
4. The government would not force you to marry people. This isn't ancient China where you have political marriages taking place. 
5. Christianity isn't the official religion of the United States. It has been this way for a very long time, and it would never happen. We would not have a national government-run church. Seeing as it hasn't happened already, I am 100% confident that it won't happen in the future, unless some sort of religious leader takes total dominion of the government. 
6. Churches are not 100% exempt from government rules, just tax exempt, as it stands. Seeing as they are not exempt from other such issues, why should they be able to not pay taxes? 

tornadocam :
Sop is correct on that, paying tax does not change the framework of your rights. Other than having to pay tax like anyone else.
If not paying tax is a requirement to be free of state control, then frankly no building used by any kind of organisation should pay tax.
Tobbaco lobbyists shouldnt have to pay tax on their HQ, because the government would impede their agenda to get everyone smoking(thats not true, the government would help their agenda but still).

I think that all churches, Christian churches, mosques, synagogues, should pay taxes. The United States Constitution in the first amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This is also supported by Jefferson using the phrase, in the Supreme Court, "Separation of church and state". The fact that churches of any religion are exempt from this outright ignores the Constitution of the United States, so unless you want to go to congress to propose a change to the amendment, churches should always be taxed no matter what (as long as the Constitution includes the above quote).

a-sassy-black-lady : as an atheist (I'm saying I'm one so I am being transparent) I believe if you are living in a country getting heat, power and so on, on the government's and tax payers dime you should pay the taxes. Perhaps the Churches shouldn't pay as much as I am fully aware Churches use a lot of that money for charity and helping those who really need it which I believe is a good thing. But it doesn't seem fair that anyone can be tax exempt for the notion that they are a religious building, by that logic a comic book store with a Statue of Yoda could claim Tax exemption for the religion of Jedism (and yes that's a real thing.) Although that would be boss to have an entire church devoted to star wars...and they declare a holy war on the church of Star Trek LOL.

BrenTenkage : You're one the right track but the U.S. government doesn't provide heat, electricity, water, and so on.  Those are utilities provided by private companies or semi-government bodies.  However, taxes don't go to those particular resources.  I work for a non-profit that has the same tax code as churches and we pay our electric bill, our water bill, the gas bill, and so on.  Consumers Energy, DTE, and our water supplier don't care that we're tax-exempt.  Churches pay those bills too.

However, a church benefits from road maintenance (but the members and the religious leaders pay gas tax).  They really only get police and fire protection.  Last I checked, not a ton of churches are robbed or burned except in civil unrest or protests.  I don't think they use a lot of resources from the government.

But they do occupy a lot of land that could otherwise be dedicated to commercial or industrial activity.  

But churches are generally free to go to and they call their incoming money the voluntary because you can give if you want.

Me?  Let 'em stay tax free.  If they're generating fees hand over foot and they're a rich church, the idea is they give back to the community anyway.  That's enough for me.

warmaker : ah my mistake, guess I have a lot to learn about the world LOL. But seriously ya make a good point on that.

sop281 : i think they should because their only profit is from ocasinal things like bake sales and offering. i volentire at a church and we have a youth group we have to save for years to have them go to camp. if we had to pay taxes that would not happen and we are a medium sized church we have about 300 members but not every one gives and they don'y give very much now take out rent/mortgage energy and water and you left with almost nothing but now lets say it's a christion church theres the stuff for mass so crackers and wine for all. now some churchas like to put of coffee lets take that out as well now lets say something some where brakes well thers more money needed or a microphone goes out or the computer contolling sound blue screens whatever our "profit" witch is what we use to fix things and buy suplies and try to send the kids to camp when ever we can is only about 50 dollers a mounth we can't really aford a tax now can we   so in short no tax for church 

If the churches will keep their noses out of politics for once and for all and will only ask their members for money, I could not care less what they do.

I don't think anyone should get a break on taxes, regardless of who they are or what their mission is. If a church wants to be open, it is subject to the same laws as everyone and everything else. It is not the government's responsibility to support something just because it is relating to religion.

I usually go all out and try to do full long post explaining my views on matters I am posting in. In this one tho I am going to keep it short and sweet and say ... No they should not be tax-exempt. They should have to pay taxes like any other citizen or business in the country does.

If taxes are to exist (I believe they are legalized theft), then no. Exempting anyone from taxes gives them undue privilege but also power. Further away from the taxman's scrutiny, they can be tempted to blur legal lines between church and state, such as the Mormons heavily campaigning for Proposition 8 in California.

Churches are Non-Profit organizations... All of these are tax exempt, it's really no different than a Shelter, or and Orphanage. Something that is for the good of others shouldn't pay tax! But, neither should they receive money from tax, as thenumberone mentioned... It's wrong for a Non-Profit place to make money for the purposes they use them. It should be to pay Bills, that's it.

For the government? No, thats more money they could be using for continued operation, for running government funded programs and funding public schools. The church? Yes, less money need to pay in expenses. Morallisticly? Yes, why make the priests have to come up with more money (or church goers pay more in whats it called out of their paychecks). Personally? Why do I care again? Right, I don't care.

One of the conditions for the exemption from taxes is that churches are supposed to stay out of politics.

Many of them ignore that rule. For that reason alone, they should lose the exempt status. You want to break the rules, no more game for you.

a-sassy-black-lady : indeed. but a similar thing is done with the ritch. but this is even more flawed.