Will WT "Euphrates" dry up more in 2007? (New IRS rules)

by Open mind 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Open mind

  First off, there's a new poster who hasn't gotten much of a welcome.

  Mr. Born Again

  He's done three posts. One entitled MONEY!MONEY!MONEY! posted here:

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/132906/1.ashx

  He wanted to know how much the average dub contributes.

  I'm spinning off of that with these 2 questions:

  1. Will the change in 2007 IRS Tax Rules about documenting charitable contributions result in a further drying up of the fiscal Euphrates that feeds the Tower?

  (If you haven't heard, you can no longer claim cash donations on your taxes unless you have some form of documentation. Even if it's less than $250 on a given day.)

  2. Do you think the average dub overstated cash contributions in the past? Did you?

  Open (to legitimate tax breaks) Mind
• 

  kwr

  1. Will the change in 2007 IRS Tax Rules about documenting charitable contributions result in a further drying up of the fiscal Euphrates that feeds the Tower?

  (If you haven't heard, you can no longer claim cash donations on your taxes unless you have some form of documentation. Even if it's less than $250 on a given day.)

  Why should it effect giving at all? All you need to do is include your name with any cash donation to get a receipt. Not everyone that donates can deduct donations because they don't make enough money to itemize deductions and the standard deduction covers their donations.

  2. Do you think the average dub overstated cash contributions in the past? Did you?

  I imagine there are some tax cheats among JW's just as there are in other religions.
• 

  Open mind

  KWR:

  Here's what I was thinking, and maybe I'm way off base here. Someone doesn't want to have the account servant knowing that they're ONLY giving a measly little $5 might hold off until they have a more "respectable" amount to give. ( I know, I know. Widow's mite and all that notwithstanding. I'm just talking vain old human nature here. )

  Anyway, the $5 ends up staying in their pocket and going into the after-meeting cash register of the local burger joint instead. And the "respectable" donation never or rarely happens.

  Hallelujah!!
• 

  heathen

  Now who's going to want a receipt for a $5 donation anyway ?
• 

  kwr

  Obviously you have never known my grandfather.
• 

  Pahpa

  I think that the average JW will continue to contribute. It may actually be an incentive for them to contribute more if there is going to be a record of the amount in a receipt book.
• 

  zack

  I think the dubs will contribute, at least those that already do. What I think may be a nightmare is an accounts servants handing out receipts for the

  $5 dollar donations. Also, I think this new rule may be challenged if religious groups' donations fall off. Gifts of mercy should be secret, and many believers adhere

  to that principle. The IRS rule will be offensive many.

  Zack----
• 

  Euphemism

  JWs skew towards the lower end of the income spectrum, which means that most probably don't itemize.

  OTOH, a lot of JWs--at least those who contribute more than $5 or $20--already donate by check anyway. In Europe, I've even head of them setting up regular direct debits. In the US, I understand that there's a phone number you can call to do a direct debit, but I don't know if you can set up regular debits or not.

  So I don't see this making much of a difference. Again, your $5/$20 donors are probably not itemizing anyway.
• 

  Borgia

  Some countries in Europe have a long standing policy of tax deductable gifts. An applicable treshhold may apply before the total becomes eligible for deduction, based of evidence: slips of direct debits, credit card payments, wiretransfers, the lot.

  Of interest is to see the variance in amounts. My observation: the number of actual gifts is quite limited to a few die-hard old timers. This little group also is responsible for the substance of the gifts in general. I suspect that 80% of the amount of gifts comes from that group. The rest is caught up in taking care of kids, costs of vacations, house, car, the lot.

  The assembly experience of the little kid that drops it's life savings into the box, to me is examplary of the bad shape the contribution issue is in. And it does not seem to improve......

  There is another factor that may contribute to the decrease of contributions: plastic/ electronic.

  1)credit cards: pay with your signature: you do not need to carry around many $
  2)debit cards: pay wih your pin: you do not need to carry around many $

  3)CHIP payment: some countries offer digital purse payments with a single yes or no. Again no need to carry around $.

  With all plastic/digital options: tipping can be done by a top up on the bill.

  Cheers

  Borgia
• 

  Justitia Themis

  If donations do start declining, I suspect the WTBTS will simply set up a donation website where one can donate using Pay Pal and print a receipt.

  Justitia