Pages

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Tax religious organizations

Malaysiakini - Tax exemptions will be given to religious institutions:


William "Bill" Maher is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, media critic, and television host. As a television host, he is well known for the HBO political talk show Real Time with Bill Maher

The Finance Ministry will issue a tax exemption order for religious institutions following the confusion arising from the amendment to paragraph 13 (1) Table 6 of the Income Tax Act 1967.

Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said the order was to exempt all types of income of religious institutions registered under the Registrar of Societies or under any written laws regulating the institutions, from tax.


I respectfully disagree.

All religious organizations, whether Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Bahai, etc* should be taxed.

* technically Confucianism is NOT a religion but if the tax office sees fit to tax any Confucian temples (if there is any), they have my (excuse the pun) blessings, wakakaka

Those religious organizations use public services like roads, police protection, government funding and aid, etc but do not want to contribute to the national kitty to pay for such services. They leave it to the poorer Malaysians to contribute.

Some even make BIG money. And they make use of the money to secure enormous political and social influences for themselves.

I leave you with an image.


Good on you Leo for telling the truth.

I am sure there are many non-Christian equivalents.


George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author. Carlin was noted for his black comedy and his thoughts on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and various taboo subjects

2 comments:

  1. You are heavily biased on this, arising from your atheism.
    Please don't impose your atheism on others.

    Your position that organizations which on the simple basis "use public services like roads, police protection, government funding and aid, etc " should be taxed is largely an anathema to modern society.

    In olden days there was such a "Poll Tax" where you were subjected to taxation basically for Existing, being Alive within the State. It would be untenable in a modern society.

    All modern states impose tax on the basis of
    a) Income - either personal income , or profit made by an organisation,
    b)Direct Consumption - Import Duties, Export Levies, Sales Tax, GST/VAT

    Since Government does not and cannot possibly carry out all the necessary functions in a society, there is a recognition of the vital role of Non-Profit Organisations in society.
    Not all are purely voluntary organisations. Once they have significant operations, they will need paid full-time or part-time staff.

    These Organisations do have "Income" - either contributions from the public or income from Invested assets or cash.

    Nothing exists in a modern society without money. However, these organisations do not exist for the sole or central purpose of making money, so they are exempted from Tax.

    That is the rationale why a modern Secular (but not Atheistic) state does not tax Registered Religions.

    If an non-taxable organisation (religious or not) is believed to be violating the principle "not exist for the sole or central purpose of making money", that is a separate matter to be investigated without fear or favour.

    Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Go after people who abuse this institution, why the institution itself?

    ReplyDelete