Ridding the National Deficit

[AFA Admin]

ATHEIST FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA INC
Media Release

Ridding the National Deficit

2 May 2009

In 1991, the USA population was 253 million. The National Council of Churches that year reported $450 billion dollars of untaxed income. The number of people in Australia in 2009 is in the vicinity of 20 million.

Using these amounts and an educated guess, religions in Australia did not pay tax on *$35.5 billion dollars or some figure short of that although still appreciable. As this money in not accounted for, even generously allowing for 10 billion dollars spent on charity, it leaves 25 billion untaxed dollars made up by ALL Australians, not only those who follow a faith.

The Churches are rolling in it. Is it any wonder that they are extraordinary quiet about the actual total that hardworking Australians are subsiding?

David Nicholls, president of the AFA said, "One has only to state a belief in an invisible superman in the sky to flout the taxation laws and make them a nice little earner. Our ‘moral guardians’ are living off the fat of the land while the rest of the country struggles with debt."

*The Australian Humanist No. 93 Autumn 2009 - Perkins & Gomez estimate $31B annually. (Not including unknown GST or FBT)

David Nicholls
President
Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc
PMB 6
Maitland SA 5573
Phone: (08) 8835 2269
Email: info@atheistfoundation.org.au (info@atheistfoundation.org.au)

[SchizoDeluxe]

If there's one thing I would like to see in my lifetime in the fight against religious bullying and fraudulents, it's to see these pricks get taxed like the rest of us.

[RobertCWhite]

From the treasurers website in regards to Henry Tax Review

In the interests of business and community certainty, the Government advises that it will not implement the following policies at any stage. Some of these are recommendations of the Australia's Future Tax System review, some are potential mis-interpretations of the recommendations.


Do any changes to the tax system that harm the not-for-profit sector, including removing the benefit of tax concessions, raising the gift deductibility threshold or changing income tax arrangements for clubs (see Rec 9e, 13, 41, 43 & 44)
I suppose I shouldn't have been as naive to be hopeful for reform in this area. Weak as piss!!!!

[Spud Henley]

I see no reason churces and relgions have to pay no tax. Give us back our money!

[Logic]

Hooray! I'm so glad the AFA has done a media release on this issue.

Again I ask, where is the Aust Secular Party? As an election draws closer I have not heard a peep, even their facebook page is quiet- why aren't they getting in the media on this issue. The average joe would be shocked to realise if religious organisations paid taxes their personal tax rate could drop.

[Praxis]

Need to change the date on the release - it says 2 May 2009 :)

Funny this just appeared - not five minutes ago I suggested a poll question for one of the online survey groups I participate in, on this very topic!

I'll bet they don't give it a run though - they're far more interested in questions like "do you believe in psychics?" (somewhat gratifyingly though, the no's were ahead of the yes's with 53% vs 47%, so there's hope yet!)

I agree that the average Australian would be shocked if they realised what it would actually mean for them. Also shocked to learn that the tax exemption status extends to businesses owned by religious groups as well. It's beyond a rort.

[GenericBox]

The date is right, its a bumped thread - first post 5 May 2009 ;)

Apologies if I missed any sarcasm.

[Sanity personified]

If I could be arsed I would make up a religion claiming that the Spirit of E.T. had revealed himself to me and that he had created the humans from a mystical i-pod. Excuse me! And I think that the tax breaks should be given as a means of prteparing for the future of the pens that are pushing or being pushed from the parliament to us. I think that would be a very worthwise exercise in standing up to the lesser opponent in the God Botherers when the shit hits the fan. Whose with me?

[xactlytrue]

If I could be arsed I would make up a religion claiming that the Spirit of E.T. had revealed himself to me and that he had created the humans from a mystical i-pod. Excuse me! And I think that the tax breaks should be given as a means of prteparing for the future of the pens that are pushing or being pushed from the parliament to us. I think that would be a very worthwise exercise in standing up to the lesser opponent in the God Botherers when the shit hits the fan. Whose with me?

Now that could be a plan.
So far only one I know of, Scientology, and has succeeded. Well one is easy to cope with.
But what if there is 100s of similar new religions invented, all due the same recognitions re Tax. Eventually things should hit the fan, don't you think?
The hit on revenue could be big.
So then there may be a consideration of change ! and part of that would be prooving who is worthy, and the God botherers will also need to show their hand of proof, fun!!
The only rational outcome then should be to abolish all the Tax advantages.

Well thats a big plan!!


Perhaps little steps, if its true that related commercial religious enterprises like Sanitarium are paying no tax, well lets just start with that.

[Atheos]

Perhaps little steps, if its true that related commercial religious enterprises like Sanitarium are paying no tax, well lets just start with that.


I did not know that Sanitarium is owned by the seventh day adventist church: http://library.adelaide.edu.au.proxy.library.adelaide.edu .au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1369252, due to this knowledge I will in the future be boycotting myself from purchasing any product the company make, I believe that any business or company that is owned or significantly shareheld by a religious organisation should be required to clearly and plainly state this in all forms of advertising, Packaging,TV, Newspaper, Magazines, etc. I contend that there is no such thing as a legitimate "non profit or not for profit organisation" in the business or coporate economic structure, as distinct from charities. The sole purpose of the existence of businesses or corporations is to make money, enough money to produce profit, whether those profits are passed on to the individual or to shareholders or kept within the business or company structure is moot.The outcome of companies like Sanitarium making profits is that the religious organisations that own them benefit economically through those profits and therefore should be taxed at the standard rate of all businesses and companies.

[Sanity personified]

Holy Cow, I jusr read my post. Hence forth, I am practicing sobriety.

[Logic please]

Holy Cow, I jusr read my post. Hence forth, I am practicing sobriety.

Don't do that, not as interesting :)

[GodwinGrey]

You must give the churches credit for audacity. Not only do they avoid taxes - they criticize people who avoid taxes. That's a cool bluff dontcha think?

http://www.londonsummit.gov.uk/en/join-the-debate/your-debate/faith-leaders/churches-position-paper

[Logic please]

You must give the churches credit for audacity. Not only do they avoid taxes - they criticize people who avoid taxes. That's a cool bluff dontcha think?

http://www.londonsummit.gov.uk/en/join-the-debate/your-debate/faith-leaders/churches-position-paper

@Godwin: thanks for the link...

My first take - crikey, proper paragraph breaks anyone?

I suppose that's one good thing about religious dudes - being outright hypocrites just doesn't pose a problem for them, like it does for most thinking people.... :rolleyes:

And they want to lecture everyone else about ethics? :mad: If they're so concerned about tax havens, why don't they voluntarily give their own favoured tax status up, for the common good of society? :cool:

[Quintin]

If your raison d’etre is advertising and selling your product are you still a charity?
Case in point..
World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed *to promote human transformation,* seek justice, and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.

This is not a charity it is an advertising company.

[The Irreverent Mr Black]

@Quintin: Yes, missionary and evangelistic efforts are still legally defined as charity under Australian law, anomalous as it actually is.

[RobertCWhite]

I understand that the govenrment would be hesitant to remove tax concessions on all religions because of its electoral unpopularity (although it hasn't seemed to bother them alienting the mining community).

However I don't think it would unrealistic or even unpopular to keep the charitable side of religions tax free but tax their business enterprises in exactly the same manner in which all other enterprises are taxed within Australia.

Logic will get you nowhere I guess...

Robert C White