WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 16, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy announced he will be introducing legislation to protect faith-based institutions from unnecessary taxes. The Faith and Fairness Act of 2014 allows religious institutions to receive favorable tax status so they can provide housing for leaders of their communities. It upholds the position that the federal government has held for generations on whether such expenditures should be taxed.
Despite this long tradition of honoring faith and religion through favored status in the tax code, a recent court case deemed it unconstitutional for churches to provide ministers with tax-exempt housing allowances in lieu of housing them on church property. This legislation ensures theistic and non-theistic institutions are able to receive favorable tax status.
View the legislation here and see Dr. Cassidy’s statement below:
“The tax-exempt housing allowance helps ensure that faith-based institutions are able to extend their resources as far as possible to minister to their communities. It has been protected by federal law for generations, and its continuation is important for religious liberty. Religious institutions should be able to focus their resources on building faith and serving their people, not paying the federal government.”
