Interim Minister

[Bees Knees]

Bees Knees,
You sure do get around, your were a musician, and now a tax preparer and a minister, keep up the good work.

Did I also mention my years as a carpet cleaner, a tow truck driver, a baker for Marriot Corporation...Let's see, I also have a full length feature movie documentary coming out soon about our trip to Alaska.

Sometimes, people enjoying doing more than one thing in their life...

[Unregistered]

Chief is a member of the clergy, who is also a tax professional. I'm sure it is a direct insult to him when you lump his entire profession into one category. Not every clergy member pulls in 80k a year and exempts themselves from FICA, or receives a housing allowance.

In fact, the FICA exemption only applies to a few groups that have a religious objection to public insurance. Very few religions believe such a thing.

I also happen to be a minister, although I receive zero compensation for it. Our religion believes teaching others about the Bible should be voluntary, not done for compensation. I don't appreciate being lumped together with other religions, merely because I am engaged in a public ministry. There are good and bad apples in all professions, including tax preparation.

When Chief said Tax Preparers dont make or judge the ethics of any particular group, it was his kind way of saying stop insulting him on this message board. Insulting other participants on this board is against the board's posting rules.

I don't have a problem with clergy getting a fair wage. The bible says they should be paid fairly. What I am gripping about is special tax breaks for certain proffessions. I happen to know several pastors who do not pay fica tax. I'm self employed and must pay both employer and employee portions. How fair is that.

I think it sucks when fireman don't pay SS tax (in Portland) also and many run side businesses that they don't report at all. Then they come in my office every year do an inspection abd BILL me for it (driving a ladder truck). I don't look at them very kindly either.

[wv112]

The minister's that don't pay FICA & Medicare taxes don't get any of the benefits.

Lots of them are now very aware of what they did to their future by the making the choice to sign that little slip of paper years ago.

I don't think they fully understood what they were signing away. What if they become disabled? Nothing there. What will they do for medical insurance when they retire?

Maybe if their wife worked they can draw half of her check. But would that be right if they signed that little piece of paper stating they don't believe in the system?

???

Your thoughts on this?

[Bees Knees]

The minister's that don't pay FICA & Medicare taxes don't get any of the benefits.

Lots of them are now very aware of what they did to their future by the making the choice to sign that little slip of paper years ago.

I don't think they fully understood what they were signing away. What if they become disabled? Nothing there. What will they do for medical insurance when they retire?

Maybe if their wife worked they can draw half of her check. But would that be right if they signed that little piece of paper stating they don't believe in the system?

The rule was designed to accommodate a religious belief, not to allow a tax loophole. If it is a religious conviction, they should be willing to suffer the consequences without complaining about it.

The Christians thrown into the Roman Arenas did not believe in Idol worship. Thus, they refused to bow down and worship statues of Roman gods. If they later said, wait a minute, I’m not going to believe that way if it means having to be eaten by a lion, then their belief system is conditional. They only believe that way when it is convenient.

In that sense, a “so called” religious person can in reality be a hypocrite if they abandon their set of beliefs because it may turn out later to be inconvenient.