# Is church tax status in any danger? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 27, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481 "2025-01-27T17:12:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/1 "2025-01-27T17:12:12Z")
In light of the Trump government’s viewpoints on immigrants, DEI, political involvement etc., are the tax exempt status’ of religious institutions in any danger? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/2 "2025-01-27T17:17:08Z")
We can only hope. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/3 "2025-01-27T17:18:36Z")
You definitely need to elaborate on that. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/4 "2025-01-27T17:22:18Z")
Trump’s base is composed of Christian nationalists who attend churches that skirt IRS electioneering laws every single Sunday. In no way would I ever consider the tax-exempt status of churches to be in danger of being revoked under this administration. If anything, it’ll be strengthened with specific guidelines/executive orders for the IRS to look elsewhere for wrong-doing. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/5 "2025-01-27T17:24:38Z")
Yes but it will be selective. Churches that get into politicking in opposition to Trump’s agenda will be investigated. No question. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/6 "2025-01-27T17:25:15Z")
Not all “wrong-doing” is created equal in their eyes. The can certainly go after one side while ignoring (or even encouraging) the other. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/7 "2025-01-27T17:29:53Z")
A big supportive voting block for Trump is the religious right, so I believe he will think twice before opening hostilities with churches. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/8 "2025-01-27T17:30:20Z")
All churches? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/9 "2025-01-27T17:30:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The can certainly go after one side while ignoring (or even encouraging) the other. Then you need to reframe your question. If one side is targeted and the other is not, the tax status of religious organizations would remain the same, just unevenly regulated. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/10 "2025-01-27T17:33:45Z")
I’m pretty sure people realize this isn’t an “all or nothing” situation. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/11 "2025-01-27T17:33:56Z")
I am not persuaded as to why churches ought to enjoy tax free status. It is as simple as that. I have no proposals for how church taxation ought to be implemented. And I could imagine some exemptions for smaller, poorer denominations. But my personal opinion (likely not sufficient for a GD), is that I do not appreciate the societal benefit of conferring tax free status upon wealthy denominations. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/12 "2025-01-27T17:37:44Z")
Most of the responses would seem like they are reading your OP as an all-or-nothing proposition, which is why I suggested you clarify. In light of that - yes. I believe Trump will certainly tell the IRS to investigate individual churches he deems problematic. I suspect the IRS will continue being the least efficient department in the history of the US government and come up with inconclusive findings, if they ever do any actual investigation in light of the hiring freeze and their massive under-staffed status. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/13 "2025-01-27T17:46:37Z")
I wholeheartedly agree since I don’t see why churches should get any tax exemption at all. They are clearly businesses, with paid employees, that makes money selling products and services to the public. I have no problem with them doing that as long as they pay taxes just like any other business, even the smaller less-profitable denominations. If they then then go out of business, so be it. As to answering the OP directly, no, I don’t see Trump changing anything since it doesn’t benefit him to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/14 "2025-01-27T18:13:56Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > As to answering the OP directly, no, I don’t see Trump changing anything since it doesn’t benefit him to do so. It does give the right an enemy they can focus hate on. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/15 "2025-01-27T18:39:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It does give the right an enemy they can focus hate on. Just another reason to get rid of these tax exemptions altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/16 "2025-01-27T18:43:59Z")
And I think that is another discussion altogether. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/17 "2025-01-27T18:45:28Z")
It is another discussion completely. Sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/18 "2025-01-27T19:44:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > In light of the Trump government’s viewpoints on immigrants, DEI, political involvement etc., are the tax exempt status’ of religious institutions in any danger? Why would they be? I don’t think Trump has any religious beliefs, but he’s not going to alienate a large part of his support base. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/19 "2025-01-27T20:26:43Z")
Most church income is gifts, which are tax exempt. And they dont make a profit, and taxes are calculated on profits. So other than the fact they’d have to file a different tax form, it wouldnt make a HUGE amount of different. And remember- lots of other orgs are non-profit- Schools, Sierra club, Scouts, etc etc. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481/20 "2025-01-27T20:31:36Z")
If Trump tried to limit tax-exemptions to only Christian Churches that do not support homosexuality, abortion, female clergy, &c. I would not be shocked. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-church-tax-status-in-any-danger/1013481.md?page=2)