“Rastafarian church in Downtown Madison distributes cannabis as city tries to stop it” Wisconsin State Journal reports here.
Category: Wisconsin
1742 Housing allowance decision
[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/5853761/height/90/width/450/theme/custom/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/c30000/” height=”90″ width=”450″ placement=”top”]The federal district court for the Western District of Wisconsin recently held that the Tax Code’s housing allowance violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The decision in Gaylor v. Mnuchin, (W.D. Wis., Oct. 6, 2017), deals with 26 U.S.C. § 107(2). It does not affect the exemption from taxed income based on the value of a church-owned home, traditionally referred to as a parsonage, which is found in 26 U.S.C. § 107(1). Josh explains how the housing-allowance exemption works, why the court concluded it is unconstitutional, and what ministers and religious organizations should look for as the case progresses.
“Court Says Tax Code’s Parsonage Allowance Is Unconstitutional”
“Court Says Tax Code’s Parsonage Allowance Is Unconstitutional” Religion Clause reports here on Gaylor v. Mnuchin, (W.D. Wis., Oct. 6, 2017). Freedom From Religion Foundation has a press release here. Here’s an excerpt from the court’s decision: Continue reading ““Court Says Tax Code’s Parsonage Allowance Is Unconstitutional””
“Property tax exemption for downtown Madison’s St. Raphael’s in Wisconsin budget draws fire”
“Property tax exemption for downtown Madison’s St. Raphael’s in Wisconsin budget draws fire” The Capital Times of Madison, Wisconsin reports here on a controversy over the property-tax exemption on land on which a Roman Catholic cathedral once stood until it was destroyed by arson. ChurchLaw&Tax includes a summary in its weekly news summary here.
Wis. church’s accounting clerk convicted of stealing $800,000 for gambling
Wis. church’s accounting clerk convicted of stealing $800,000 for gambling. The LaCrosse Tribune reports in a story: Former Onalaska church clerk steals more than $800,000 to fuel gambling habit.” Wisconsin Law Journal reports: “Guilty pleas in church theft of $800,000.” ChurchLaw&Tax includes the story in its weekly news update.