How one can leave their critical thinking skills at the door of a "church" is beyond me, "All of Calkins’ [earned] income [from a "real" job] was paid straight into church accounts after he took his vow of obedience and poverty."
__
A three-judge panel in Utah’s Tenth District Federal Court of Appeals ruled against an appeal by
Kevin Hartshorn, a Christian minister who has been convicted of founding his church as a tax avoidance scheme.
In a decision issued Monday by the judges, upheld an injunction against Hartshorn and the Church of Compassionate Service, a body that the panel deemed to be an “abusive tax shelter.”
Hartshorn’s ministry was first sued by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Utah in 2010. The Church of Compassionate Service was accused of being a “tax fraud scheme” by the government. In the church, Hartshorn commanded his “ministers” to sign over their income and possessions to Hartshorn and the church. They were issued debit cards to use for their daily and household expenses.
[,,,]
“As the head minister of the Church of Compassionate Service,” wrote the judges, “Defendant [Hartshorn] has assisted individuals in executing vows of poverty and transferring their property to the church, and he has made representations to them about the tax consequences of doing so. He has told ministers they need not pay taxes on money they earn that is assigned to the church pursuant to a vow of poverty.”
Busted: Utah man sets up church where everyone is a minister, no one pays income tax
No comments:
Post a Comment