Tax Churches And Mosques To Build Nigeria?

Should the Church and Mosque be taxed to raise revenue for Nigeria?

I know a lot of the chosen would be quick to condemn this, but lets really think about what is in the best interest of the country. Most of Nigeria's money comes from the oil industry and it is clear that is not enough to build up the infrastructure fast enough for rapid, sustained economic growth. This is why I suggest that we, the people, turn to God ( ) to foot some of the bill. Hence a 50 percent tax on Churchs and Mosque. Or maybe a property tax that depends on the size and location of the various houses of God.

While it might difficult to get the Pastors and Imams to give up some of their loot, once a few of them are arrested I am sure the rest would see the light. Right?

Please, do not turn this into a crusade/jihad battle ground. Thanks for you understanding. What do you all think?

Of course, they should be taxed. Why not? Institutions that contribute more to the economy are being taxed, so why not churches? That churches are not being taxed in most countries is a sign of the strong influence of religion.

And why exactly should they be taxed? Havent these same people (members) been taxed already or don't they have right to associate anymore.
If the churches and mosques are to be taxed then every union must be taxed as well be it social, religious, sports, ngo's and even family units as long as money is involved. Wife will start paying soup tax, kids pay pocketmoney- tax, launchings pay donation-tax, weddings pay spraying- tax etc
Tax reforms should be handled with care.

Good thread. Agree one hundred percent.

While it might difficult to get the Pastors and Imams to give up some of their loot, once a few of them are arrested I am sure the rest would see the light. Right?

hahahahaha!

the annual budget of some churches are larger than some registered companies in Nigeria who pay an income tax of about 30% so i support the taxes of churches and mosques who have assets in excess of 1 million naira.

Tax them, I say,

HELLO, GUYS,
AM NEW TO THIS THING BUT I WANT TO KNOW YOUR VIEW POINT TO MY TOPIC WEATHER CHURCHES SHOULD BE TAXED

No and Yes

Your damn right they should be taxed, then maybe the money they are making could go to a worthy, BETTER cause, other than lining the pastors pockets (or any other religious leader).

@DaHitler

i agree with you they should be taxed seriously for that matter. Mr Ribadu even said one of the pastors/Bishops had N7billion in his private account

Please, do not turn this into a crusade/jihad battle ground. Thanks for you understanding. What do you all think?

olboy i like this your CAVEAT o. when i read it i laughed so loudly in my office that peole were asking me what was so funny. You are too much guy/babe?

Your damn right they should be taxed, then maybe the money they are making could go to a worthy, BETTER cause, other than lining the pastors pockets (or any other religious leader).

Buhahaha. The only people less trustworthy than Pastors are politicians. This really won't help the country at all!

I don't think they should be tax. the churches should invest more in community and provide assistance for homeless and sponsors young outstanding students.

@layi

it is the church being taxed not the members.

If we can't utilise the revenue generated from the oil industry as it looks, i do not think the tax collected from churches or mosques will make any meaning to the development on nigeria.

HMM LET ME ADD MY VIEW

IT IS IN THE BIBLE THAT GIVE WHAT BELONG TO CESAR TO CESAR AND GIVE WHAT BELONG TO GOD TO GOD, FOR ME THEY SHOULD PAY THEIR TAX. BECAUSE MOST CHURCHES ARE RICHER THAN THE PRESIDENT.

AND FOR YOU INFORMATION THEY WILL START PAYING SOON. RIBADU IS WORKING ON IT

why not? In Nigeria, it is a business for profit

Absolutely NO

Just because people have turned it into a profitable business doesn't mean we should follow them.

It is in the book; and we must follow the book.
One day these folks will answer to the highest (GOD).

Therefore, let's stay focused and judge them not!

@ BigB1
what is in the book?

@Bushfellow i concur. Give unto ceasar,

Why should churches and mosques be taxed, they are religious institution for Christ sake. They are charity organizations, and should not be taxed.

All churches should be taxed. Take the Vatican as an example. It pays no taxes, it is located in a tax free zone and has its own bank.

All this why millions of people are starving each year.

Tax them hard

People r talking in this house

Without any sense of bias, yes religious institutions should be taxed,even as at today some religious bodies pay taxes,its so pathetic that these institutions profess spiritual help and support but most are just out there for profit making,nigeria is a multireligious society so therefore such religious institutions should give something back to the locality in which they operate,in the uk and us they pay !

who are you to seek for a tax fee on churches and mosque.
pls if u work with firs, and u are trying to see if your proposal will sale thru in the public then you are mistaken.

because i want to ask you how much of tax payers money has been well utilized in this country of crooks like you.
if vat and all the multiple tax charges that has made prices of goods and services in this country to escalate.
the ordinary man can not be provided for but the firs and the politicians are stealing more money from the treasury
engineers are stealing, police are killing, accountants are getting fat and lawyers are choping

yet all of you are thinking of depriving the helpless from feeding at jesus's feet.

well if that will happen then the FIRS will stop charging VAT, and help make food items come down.

na lie
i no go gree ooooooooooooooo
wetin u guyz at FIRS wan use church money do
the VAT charges no reach una
you wan chop God money, Allah no go allow you.
uyour thinking is thatonly the rich should be allowed to go to church.
they will be the one to steal, the so called tax collectors
in almost 50 years i can not say this is d benefit of tax paying in nigeria.
govt can not build roads, provide water and electricity, no modern refinery and no education for the helpless poor.

but because una fit browse and don they chop like lawyers dis days, una think say hin good make thieve come chop God money in the name of welfare for the nation.
which welfare do nigerians need if not light, cheap food, education, shelter and affordable means of transportation.
in you thinking na church and mosque money go provide politicians with money for infrastructures for the community.
well if you never reach abuja go see what oil money do. turning a desert into a wonderful city.
go to niger deltal and see how cocoa and cotton money build refineries.

nigeria is so rich, that the queen of egland and western world can not sleep when they hear a nigerian is lodging money in their country.
yet you no talk same make them dey tax the families of all political office holders either civlservant or uniform man, anyone with a juicy position both in the poblic and private sector. na God and the poor church goers you wan tax.

if yuo all are working at Federal inland revenue services (firs), i pray u vomit all d money u don chop.

Yes Churches and Mosques should be taxed.Church leaders accept tithes in the name of God. They'll say “God needs your help building the church, ” What does god need with a multi-million dollar church Nothing. These are the same so-called church leaders that you'll find riding in fancy cars, eating the best foods, living in expensive homes and living the life of wealthy people while their followers scrape and struggle to do “God's will” by tithing. These so-called leaders will lead congregations in the worse of the worse neighborhoods and on their way to church to preach on Sundays or Saturdays or whatever day they declare to be the Sabbath,they will step over the homeless or the less fortunate.

why is it only churches that need to be taxed like everyone is posting up here. What about mosques and babalawos? And what about traditional rulers organising election frauds, and oppressing citizens; Don't they need to be abolished?

i agree with you, if the govt will abolish opression by ensuring that all nigerians are equal and have rigth to the type of live any politician is living and govt will send all nigerians abroad to study, and give jobless nigerians salaries and food including housing. then maybe tax issues may make sense to us all.

but if d status quo is d same there is no meaning taxing every worshipper at d place worship, because d tax they pay at work as has not yield any meaningful development for us all. why take from God to enrich d politicians, or fight war and make FIRS more corrupt.

or u guyz want to make God's men to lose focus and get corrupt more.

wen una decide finish make una[b] MAKE ME THE TAX COLLECTOR [/b]

No - Non-profits should not be taxed.

BUT, they should be made to track all collections/incomes, and disclose all income/expenditure to their congregations and public in exchange for a tax-free privilege.

Failure to do so should be punishable by law and include jail terms.