WHY AREN'T CHURCHES TAXED?

If you actually read the tax code, churches are not given special privileges for simply being churches. They are not exempt from taxes for being churches. No. No.

They apply for, and accept, tax-exempt status under chapter 501, as CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.  Their first requirement is to demonstrate they are a charitable organization. Next, they cannot engage in partisan political activity, or they lose the exemption. Engaging in political activity violates the very code that provides them with the tax shelter, and is grounds for having it removed.

BOTTOM LINE. Churches/religious organizations are ONLY exempt from paying taxes, when granted  granted exemption under chapter 501 of the tax code, because they are considered “charitable organizations”. That is the black letter law.

Churches should be audited for compliance— are they functioning as charitable organizations?...and if it is discovered that they are in violation of their tax exempt status, that status should be removed and they should be taxed retro-actively to the date of the first violation.Obviously, same goes for proof of restrictions against engaging in partisan political activities..