Tax: Lagos Pastors Go To Court

very true, abeg, very true,  i thank God for His truth has set me free!!

Jakumo no go kill me for this thread 

One minute you demand they should all pay, the next you claim they should  only be denied the status if they are shown not to provide aid to the community. Are you saying that the current stipulations for the non-profits are not ok? If yes, why? If no, then why are you going on about it.

Going by Fashola’s response, it seems he is not willing to make an issue of it; I am guessing it may be the case that many of the churches continue to abide by regulations. Why do I continue to feel this is just about your issue with  them being able to spend their money on big houses and jets, and not on what YOU would rather they spend it on? Why do I feel you are just feigning ignorance here cause you just cannot handle the fact that these organizations are able to recieve money from members of the public they way they do?

By the way, you really believe GOVERNMENT should be required to break down organizations into smaller bits for tax purposes? Are you kidding me? What the heck does that mean? The government, as huge as it is, should now stipulate how large businesses , non-profits included, can grow?? Is that really what YOU would prefer??

Nigeria's tax laws seem to work fine. I am not sure why this sudden belief that it does not work simply cause a few people resist paying their taxes. The governor himself has come out to say all should calm down, and that the tax laws are not the problem, but you believe they are?? WOW!!

Sigh!!

tax exempt status should be determined on a case by case and not through an umbrella law.  Open your books if you want to be exempt.  Groups like redeem would be forced to list their donors.

 
your assumption is wrong. go read my posts in the religious section.  I do not oppose donations to religious groups. Are you making this assumptions because am atheist?


yes you can call me a supporter of big government.  There should be regulation on the tax exempt status of charity or NGO.  show proof of financial propriety if you claim to be non-profit. 


Nigerian tax laws work fine? we would just agree to disagree on this one

the argument against Nigerian churches isn't the money flowing out but how the money flowing out is used. 

You seem to be glossing over this point.

Ok, but don’t you think, if it WERE the case that this particular church had it’s books CLOSED to the tax authorities, your GOVERNOR would have mentioned that in his response? I mean Do you have any proof to support this assumption that the church you mentioned does not have it’s books opened to the Tax authorities?

 
I don’t go to the religious section because I mostly belief we have the extreme ones in there and the numbskulls, who themselves do not ascribe to any religion but believe they are the authority on what the religious should believe and what they should do.  Both groups I consider the same and since they litter the place, I prefer to stay away from there.
So no, I am going by what you have said on here so far, and believe you me, with you fingering a particular church in this, even when the main article did not list the same.  Unless you are going to tell me that PFN is Redeemed. I am betting there is a high chance I am not far from the truth here. Lol

There is regulation. I told you already. I have myself owned a non-profit in the past in Nigeria, but now I have one in the US. The laws are quite similar. I told you that. The stipulations are seriously similar. In fact, I have to document next to every penny I make and ensure that  even when I have to sell teeshirts to raise money for projects, I ensure that the money made is reported and the money goes to operating my non-profit BUSINESS.
I remember in the beginning, I got serious tax breaks as an individual when I paid for most of my business expenses out of pocket (my personal wages from my other business). 
So, please spare me the GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO REGULATE THEM MORE when it is currently the case that they are regulated in much the same way other non-profit BUSINESSES are, in the same country.

Roflmao!!!

In one post, you tell me I am wrong and it is NOT about the churches for you, but then you now tell me it is exactly what I have been thinking it has been about all this while . . . your issues with what the church chooses to spend it’s money on. Are you for real??? Roflmao!!!

Dude  . . .  wake up! This thread started with a post on governor supposedly wanting churches to now pay taxes on merchandise sold to raise money for their operation.  We then find out that the governor never had such an intention and he even informs us that that the current tax laws seem to be sufficient. And they are federal laws which means all churches in Nigeria, mosques, orphanages, all NGO’s , are required to keep to the rules, now getting government to IMPLEMENT the old laws, remains the main issue.

Now you want to make it about what the churches choose to spend their money on? DO you have access to their  business papers to determine that what they spend their money on is not what they are supposed to?


I prefer to stick to the issue connected to this threqd rqther thqn turn this into qnother stupid threqd: I qlreqdy told the one guy not to go dozn thjqt router; qnd I sqy you should pleqse not do the sqne;

keyboqrd qcting up1

General perception of pentecostal churches? Is that like saying that all muslims are terrorists and basing this on the "general perception" of a few fear mongers? lol !!!!

Dude. . . . I asked you to explain yourself. You did and I drew my conclusion from your response.

I am sure at this point, I have sufficiently explained myself. Non-profit BUSINESSES conduct BUSINESS like every other BUSINESS out there, only that they are allowed tax exemption by government as long as they stick to the regulations that govern their business. I even posted information on how the IRS deals with non-profits here in the US to give you a picture of what happens and why even non-profits like the salvation army, Red-cross, amnesty international, churches, mosques need to conduct business (buy and sell) to raise money with which to cover operations costs.

Then I went ahead and posted the article where we have the government stating there is no such move to change the laws, and no where did he complain about what the businesses do with the money being the problem.

I suspect most of the pastors are corrupt but I have no proof myself, so I can not say for sure that they are, and I cannot go around blabbering that they are, neither can I condemn all pastors because I believe many of them are crooks. So, I would rather stick to the topic than make it about what I don't know for sure. That is just me. And yes, like I told the other guy, no need to take this where it should not go at all.

uumm. . . . how in the world is telling that PERSONAL? You are the one making it about your SUSPICIONS of the CHURCHES, or in this case, the particular church you named here.

If you SUSPECT a group is missusing it's status, do you just CHANGE THE LAW ?

I am in support of taxing the money making organisation called church in Nigeria.

Millions on Naira flow into the church on a daily basis without any charitable project to the environment except blaring loudspeakers into the ears of the citizens.

No wonder they have excess money to buy Jets nowadays

 

well, if the state gov. has decidedb to tax churches/ mosque, no problem. this is not new as jesus and its disciples are taxed. how ever, what i am concern with are this
1) all babalawos, eyos, eguns, ifas yemojas e.t.c must also be taxed. what is good for one is also good for all.
2) the the state gov should go ahead to aduict the account of these religious organisations. to ensure transparency, the government should know the numerical/financial strength of these churches since they differs in these values.
thus the govt should note the income from each members and calculate the percentage payable to the church i.e 10% for christain as tax e.t.c
the government should also know the amount paid by each member as offerings and calculate their own proceeds from such. chickens, palm oils e.t.c given to babalawos are inclusive.
3) any members of the church/e.t.c that does not re-emmits its tithes, offerings e.t.c should be sued since this is the only way the church/e.t.c can get money govt to give to the govt.

When shall we stop pursuing shadows in this country while ignoring important things.

CHURCHES PAYING TAX, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO IN BETTERING THE LIVES OF THE POOR MASSES?
CHURCHES PAYING TAX, IS THAT OUR PROBLEM IN NIGERIA? BULLSHIT.

Nigerian leaders are very good in embarking on inconsequential projects while ignoring the nitty-gritties that constitutes the Nigerian problem.

I do apologize for the poor quality of the picture, Bina.     It was taken during one of my nocturnal hunting trips, shortly before I fled, lest the same thing happen to me.   I will strive to be braver next time.

Did you make that booking for a party of two, or more  ?