No. I've been a member all my life in several U.S. states and internationally, and I've also been a volunteer finance clerk at church for many years. I've never been asked for tax forms, or even heard of anyone being asked for tax forms. It's not a thing.
Also, there's no prescriptive guidance on pre-tax vs. post-tax, or how to handle many edge cases, such as capital gains, tax deductions, etc. The church's stance is that it's between you and God to figure out how to apply the "pay 10%" guidance.
“...the simplest statement we know of is that statement of the Lord himself that the members of the Church should pay one-tenth of all their interest annually, which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this. We feel that every member of the Church should be entitled to make his own decision as to what he thinks he owes the Lord, and to make payment accordingly.”
The quote you provide is grossly misleading, as that isn’t what tithing meant in the early days of the church. The church just says “which is understood to mean income” so causally that it’s essentially a lie. They say that to get more money. They hold peoples salvation at gun point to make sure it gets paid. And then they use their wealth and influence to drive state policy. It’s all very gross.
Not quite following your point? What about that is a lie?
At the beginning of The Church of Jesus Christ, saints were asked to consecrate all that they had to the bishop. Legally they signed away all rights to their property and the bishop leased it back to them.
They found that that wasn't sustainable (due to debts and disputes) and switched to 10% of interest (see Section 119 in D&C, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-test...). While tithing was paid in the past with animals, food, etc, that just doesn't scale beyond local communities.
Yes, our church does use funds for advocacy, but it's hard to ascribe pure malice to a church that spends $1 billion annually on humanitarian aid every year, and is expanding affordable education to tens of thousands of people in developing countries.
Not all of us agree with how much money is being held in reserve, but it's important to understand that we don't have a testimony in the church because of what we get from it, or even agree with all policies, but rather because of a personal witness of its truth. It is true that some stay in our church because of social pressure, and I'm not going to defend that practice. But, that's not what our core doctrine teaches.
I understand that it's easy to think that we are all a homogenous group that all thinks the same, but peek under the surface and you'll find many of us who find the core doctrine so compelling that we are willing to stick with the church and to enact change in constructive instead of destructive ways.
Not that I know of? I double-checked the handbook and there's nothing in there that mentions requesting tax forms, so it's certainly not official policy and if it did happen it should be reported. (We're very bureaucratic, lol)
The only tax form I can think of is a form they send me so I can deduct it from taxes (as it's legally a tax-deductible donation).
EDIT: Section 34.4, 34.5.2, and 34.5.6 are applicable.
34.4:
> Confidentiality of Tithing and Other Offerings
> The amount of tithing and other offerings paid by a donor is confidential. Only the bishop and those who are authorized to handle or view these contributions should have access to this information. Stake presidencies, bishoprics, and clerks should never inappropriately discuss a member’s tithing status. Nor should they discuss the total amount of tithing or other offerings received.
34.5.2:
> Receiving Tithing and Other Offerings
> The Lord has given bishops the sacred trust of receiving and accounting for the tithes and other offerings of the Saints (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–33; 119). Only the bishop and his counselors may receive tithes and other offerings. Under no circumstances should their wives, other members of their families, clerks, or other ward members receive these contributions. The only exception is when Aaronic Priesthood holders are assigned to collect fast offerings (see 34.3.2).
> Church leaders and members should not leave donations unattended.
34.5.6:
> Donation Statements
> Donor Statements of Contributions are available to all members at donations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Leaders should encourage members to regularly review their donor statements. Where applicable, official tax statements are also available at donations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from the local unit, or from the area office.
No. I've been a member all my life in several U.S. states and internationally, and I've also been a volunteer finance clerk at church for many years. I've never been asked for tax forms, or even heard of anyone being asked for tax forms. It's not a thing.
Also, there's no prescriptive guidance on pre-tax vs. post-tax, or how to handle many edge cases, such as capital gains, tax deductions, etc. The church's stance is that it's between you and God to figure out how to apply the "pay 10%" guidance.
Old, but still observed: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1974/04/i-h...:
“...the simplest statement we know of is that statement of the Lord himself that the members of the Church should pay one-tenth of all their interest annually, which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this. We feel that every member of the Church should be entitled to make his own decision as to what he thinks he owes the Lord, and to make payment accordingly.”
The quote you provide is grossly misleading, as that isn’t what tithing meant in the early days of the church. The church just says “which is understood to mean income” so causally that it’s essentially a lie. They say that to get more money. They hold peoples salvation at gun point to make sure it gets paid. And then they use their wealth and influence to drive state policy. It’s all very gross.
Not quite following your point? What about that is a lie?
At the beginning of The Church of Jesus Christ, saints were asked to consecrate all that they had to the bishop. Legally they signed away all rights to their property and the bishop leased it back to them.
They found that that wasn't sustainable (due to debts and disputes) and switched to 10% of interest (see Section 119 in D&C, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-test...). While tithing was paid in the past with animals, food, etc, that just doesn't scale beyond local communities.
Yes, our church does use funds for advocacy, but it's hard to ascribe pure malice to a church that spends $1 billion annually on humanitarian aid every year, and is expanding affordable education to tens of thousands of people in developing countries.
Not all of us agree with how much money is being held in reserve, but it's important to understand that we don't have a testimony in the church because of what we get from it, or even agree with all policies, but rather because of a personal witness of its truth. It is true that some stay in our church because of social pressure, and I'm not going to defend that practice. But, that's not what our core doctrine teaches.
I understand that it's easy to think that we are all a homogenous group that all thinks the same, but peek under the surface and you'll find many of us who find the core doctrine so compelling that we are willing to stick with the church and to enact change in constructive instead of destructive ways.
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Not that I know of? I double-checked the handbook and there's nothing in there that mentions requesting tax forms, so it's certainly not official policy and if it did happen it should be reported. (We're very bureaucratic, lol)
The only tax form I can think of is a form they send me so I can deduct it from taxes (as it's legally a tax-deductible donation).
EDIT: Section 34.4, 34.5.2, and 34.5.6 are applicable.
34.4:
> Confidentiality of Tithing and Other Offerings
> The amount of tithing and other offerings paid by a donor is confidential. Only the bishop and those who are authorized to handle or view these contributions should have access to this information. Stake presidencies, bishoprics, and clerks should never inappropriately discuss a member’s tithing status. Nor should they discuss the total amount of tithing or other offerings received.
34.5.2:
> Receiving Tithing and Other Offerings
> The Lord has given bishops the sacred trust of receiving and accounting for the tithes and other offerings of the Saints (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–33; 119). Only the bishop and his counselors may receive tithes and other offerings. Under no circumstances should their wives, other members of their families, clerks, or other ward members receive these contributions. The only exception is when Aaronic Priesthood holders are assigned to collect fast offerings (see 34.3.2).
> Church leaders and members should not leave donations unattended.
34.5.6:
> Donation Statements
> Donor Statements of Contributions are available to all members at donations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Leaders should encourage members to regularly review their donor statements. Where applicable, official tax statements are also available at donations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from the local unit, or from the area office.