Posted on 11/08/2004 7:32:07 PM PST by Ahriman
A lawyer for an Orthodox Jewish couple claimed Monday that the Internal Revenue Service has violated the First Amendment by refusing to allow tax deductions for their children's religious schooling. The IRS should allow the deductions because it permits members of the Church of Scientology to write off the cost of spiritual counseling sessions, attorney Jeffrey Zuckerman said during the first day of a non-jury trial in U.S. Tax Court before Judge John O. Colvin. The First Amendment prohibits the IRS from discriminating on the basis of religion, Zuckerman said. Michael and Marla Sklar of Los Angeles brought the lawsuit after the IRS ruled their deductions were invalid because Jewish school tuition was considered payment for a service, not a charitable contribution. Louis B. Jack, an attorney for the IRS, said during his opening statement that a ruling in the Sklars' favor would lead "millions of Americans to start deducting religious school tuition." "Existing case law is clear, deduction for religious school tuition is illegal, period," Jack said. Michael Sklar, an accountant, testified that he amended his 1991 tax return in 1993 to claim a portion of his children's tuition as a charitable contribution. "I believed it was a valid deduction," he said. "The same benefit is given to a particular sect, Scientologists, and there's no reason it shouldn't be applied to someone else."
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Bad analogy. Now John Travolta and his buddies are going to leave a flaming bag of poop on Zuckerman's doorstep.
I'm starting my own religion.
More likely, they'll sue him and put up scurrilous posters in his neighborhood.
They are truly crazy.
-ccm
Good for them. I hope that they get somewhere with this.
If the Scientologists are actually doing the equivalent of this schooling and getting tax breaks for it, then shoot everybody else should get the tax breaks too or else the Scientologist tax break scam should be shut down.
Lisa you know anything about this?
clinton.
The Church of Opposing Dumbass Government and Its Theft.
Ohhhhhhh Tax Breaks *drool*
They are paying a high amount of taxes to fund an educational system that they are not using. Why shouldn't they be able to keep more of their own money to educate their child the way they see fit? This could really help the middle to low income parents put their children in better performing, religious schools.
It would appear to me that there is an awful lot of religious bigotry flying around on these posts. Is this what America is all about? I thought religious freedom meant religious freedom for all, not just a select few who have decided theirs is worthy. I am a Scientologist. Proud of it. And I certainly am not crazy. Anyone who knows me would tell you I am a very SANE person who loves to help people. In fact, if you were to meet me on the street, you probably wouldn't be able to tell me from any sane, ethical, and moral human being. Don't want to be a Scientologist? Don't be one. But please don't attack my religion. It's not kind. NOW, on the subject at hand. I think these people have a good chance of winning, IF what they are looking for, is a tax break for religious schooling, in the sense of SPIRITUAL training. This is the key point. A Scientologist can only get a tax break on those services which provide spiritual enlightnment -- something that IS NOT tangible. The code is clear here. There are no deductions for books or services for which a TANGIBLE result is achieved. So if these people are looking for a tax deduction for school in general (math, english, science, etc.), they won't get it. If they are looking for a deduction in the area of spiritual enlightenment and betterment, I think they'll get it. As they should.
BUMP
Your logic is exactly L. Ron Hubbard's logic. Ever wonder why so many Scientologists are filthy rich? Tax loopholes. I live near Clearwater- I see it all day.
You're claiming that the mental benefits of Scientology don't equal the benefits of say, a math course or an English course? It's all some 'intangible' spiritual benefit?
How exactly is it supposed to help you then? Does it just make you feel better, or does it really solve problems? According to the claims on the back cover of 'Dianetics', it's supposed to be a cure-all. How then is it intangible?
Makes no sense. My faith changes things tangibly.
BUMP
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