Comment: An historic and ancient tax perk was handed to clergy back when ministers lived in the church manse and also lived in dire poverty. The exemption that allows all clergy to use the entire cost of their home, repairs, furniture, upkeep, maintainence, etc, by naming a figure and then deducting it from their salary, leads to dishonesty and blatant tax relief that is offered to no other class of taxpayers in the U.S. Many churches, temples, synegogues, mosques, etc, have staffs of 5 to 15 ministering staff, and as they report as much as 25000 to 40000 dollars as their fair cost of home keeping, each year, the cost to gov. is staggering considering the number of people in the class. Fairness to all demands that most of these outlandish benefits should be removed by courageous members of the tax reform panel and the entire House and senate. I know clergy that have a fair salary of 60,000 dollars, for example, who pay no income tax, thanks to special treatment. Malcolm Goodell, 8 N Rose St, Lodi, Ca, 95240 209 369 5994, m-and-m@softcom.net |