The Wheels On The Easement Void The Deduction
Conservation easements seem to have generated quite a bit of tax litigation. The problem with them from a tax administration viewpoint is that there is a lot of opportunity for collusion of the two sides to the contract. The big tax savings that the donor is getting are not coming out of the hide of the receiving entity. On top of that, an easement donor mainly motivated by the deduction will not be very, if at all, concerned about whether any real conservation goals are being met.
Court Rules Churches Can Continue To Conceal Financial Information
The standards of the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability require that member organizations provide audited financial statements on request. ECFA is concerned about the effect that financial shenanigans have on non-believers citing Paul’s letter to the Corinthians which states “For we are taking pains go do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.”
The strongest voice I have noted for church financial transparency is that of Reverend Frank Benson Jones. In his book Stop The Prosperity Preachers he argues that lack of transparency is one of the things that draws the wrong type of people into ministry. He believes that if the profits were removed, only prophets would remain.
Follow Me
Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.