Metro
FG moves to tax churches, mosques
The federal government may soon move to tax religious bodies, especially churches and mosques over their ownership of profit oriented commercial ventures.
This is even as the Primate of the Anglican Communion (Church of Nigeria) says that churches operating income-generating businesses should pay tax to the government.
According to him, the church on its own is a charity organization, and there is no need to pay taxes on it, but if the church has an establishment that generates income, such a church should pay tax to government.
He also noted, that “There should be a way of regulating ownership of churches. The Jonathan administration has given the mandate to CAN and NSCIA. If any of these organisations have hotels, schools and other outfits like bakery, we have to pay tax,” he stated.
The cleric, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said “The church is a registered charity organisation, not minding one person owning a church. What is bringing the issue of taxation is the one-man ownership of some churches. Since the church is a charity organisation, there is no need to pay tax. But if the church has an establishment that generates income, such a church should pay tax to government”.
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Don Lucassi
May 22, 2015 at 1:09 pm
I wonder why this is even a line of discussion and should long have been something in dark print, signed and fully operational. Adding the law on religious outfits to minimize noise pollution would be a good thing too.
billion$
May 22, 2015 at 2:19 pm
*just passing*
Abdulazeez Majid
May 22, 2015 at 3:32 pm
I believe that this is a welcome idea. Religious houses are making so much money. As long as the money is well utilised. This is cool.
Ogakris
May 23, 2015 at 5:52 pm
“But if the church has an establishment that generates income, such a church should pay tax to government” The correct assertion should be: such an establishment should pay tax to government – not the church, but the organization. I think the Primate is 100% on point that Churches are charity organizations and therefore CANNOT be taxed.