|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login | |
|
Engineering Ministry... - 7/26/2007 4:20:54 PM
|
|
|
GoodME_II
Posts: 364
Joined: 12/15/2005
Status: offline
|
Inspired by an ad running for "non-profit Christian Credit Counseling": I own an engineering company. I have decided that I am going to change the nature of my business, and declare it a 503(c) not-for-profit ministry, whereby we glorify God and praise Jesus with our feats of mastery and dominion over the physical and material sciences in the design and build of products and machinery. I mean - my ministry would be so much more effective if I didn't have to pay all those burdonsome income taxes... What does everybody think of de-secularizing secular business, especially if there is a tax break involved? Even if I geniuinely try for "not-for-profit", I create the dis-service of diluting the prices in the market for those who must pay taxes (and buy insurance and treat their employees well financially...)
_____________________________
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is...peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of...good fruits...And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace"
|
|
|
|
RE: Engineering Ministry... - 6/21/2008 7:05:12 AM
|
|
|
caleb.motupalli
Posts: 6
Joined: 6/16/2008
From: Hyderabad, India
Status: offline
|
I have just started a similar thread in the Finances forum titled "Should it be for-profit or non-profit?" Please join in the discussion.
_____________________________
Caleb S. Motupalli
|
|
|
|
RE: Engineering Ministry... - 6/21/2008 8:15:23 AM
|
|
|
peace77
Posts: 722
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline
|
It is not possible to declare a business a non-profit for the purpose of avoiding / not paying taxes. From the IRS: quote:
Who is eligible for 501(c)(3) status? There are three key components for an organization to be exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC. A not-for-profit (i.e., nonprofit) organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes. organized—A 501(c)(3) organization must be organized as a corporation, trust, or unincorporated association. An organization’s organizing documents (articles of incorporation, trust documents, articles of association) must: limit its purposes to those described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRC; not expressly permit activities that do not further its exempt purpose(s), i.e., unrelated activities; and permanently dedicate its assets to exempt purposes. operated—Because a substantial portion of an organization’s activities must further its exempt purpose(s), certain other activities are prohibited or restricted including, but not limited to, the following activities. A 501(c)(3) organization: must absolutely refrain from participating in the political campaigns of candidates for local, state, or federal office n must restrict its lobbying activities to an insubstantial part of its total activities n must ensure that its earnings do not inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual must not operate for the benefit of private interests such as those of its founder, the founder’s family, its shareholders or persons controlled by such interests n must not operate for the primary purpose of conducting a trade or business that is not related to its exempt purpose, such as a school’s operation of a factory may not have purposes or activities that are illegal or violate fundamental public policy exempt purpose—To be tax exempt, an organization must have one or more exempt purposes, stated in its organizing document. Section 501(c)(3) of the IRC lists the following exempt purposes: charitable, educational, religious, scientific, literary, fostering national or international sports competition, preventing cruelty to children or animals, and testing for public safety. 501(c3) 501(c)(3) Organizations The most common types of 501(c)(3) organizations are charitable, educational, and religious. Peace, Anne
_____________________________
I GoodSearch for Deaf Missions. Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com
|
|
|
|
RE: Engineering Ministry... - 6/21/2008 12:18:05 PM
|
|
|
caleb.motupalli
Posts: 6
Joined: 6/16/2008
From: Hyderabad, India
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: GoodME_II we glorify God and praise Jesus with our feats of mastery and dominion over the physical and material sciences in the design and build of products and machinery. Anne, Isn't that an exempt purpose (religious) according to Genesis 1:28? Genesis 1:28 -- "God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
_____________________________
Caleb S. Motupalli
|
|
|
|
RE: Engineering Ministry... - 6/21/2008 1:47:27 PM
|
|
|
LCannon
Posts: 1255
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Lebanon, OR
Status: offline
|
Howard Hughes tried that and the IRS still levied against and penalized him and had to sell his 'Medical Institute'(which was actually a tax dodge)to GE. HHMI is now the largest endowment outside Bill Gate's Foundation(Take that, Howard!). On the other hand, LeTourneau University is a direct outgrowth of Letourneau Technlogies, R. G. LeTourneau's vision(http://www.letourneau-inc.com/about/RG_bio.htm), used his heavy equipment and manufacture as a way to serve God not as a way to dodge taxes.
< Message edited by LCannon -- 6/21/2008 1:54:43 PM >
_____________________________
"It may be that when the angels go about their task of praising God they play only Bach. I am sure, however, that when they are together en famille they play Mozart and then too our dear Lord listens with special pleasure."(Karl Barth)
|
|
|
|
RE: Engineering Ministry... - 6/22/2008 10:44:08 AM
|
|
|
caleb.motupalli
Posts: 6
Joined: 6/16/2008
From: Hyderabad, India
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: LCannon Howard Hughes tried that and the IRS still levied against and penalized him and had to sell his 'Medical Institute'(which was actually a tax dodge)to GE. HHMI is now the largest endowment outside Bill Gate's Foundation(Take that, Howard!). On the other hand, LeTourneau University is a direct outgrowth of Letourneau Technlogies, R. G. LeTourneau's vision(http://www.letourneau-inc.com/about/RG_bio.htm), used his heavy equipment and manufacture as a way to serve God not as a way to dodge taxes. quote:
http://www.letourneau-inc.com/about/RG_bio.htm Dodging taxes! I can take that. "Give honor to whom honor is due, tax to whom tax..." But sometimes the taxes can be too burdensome if i am making sacrifices in my area of giftedness. I contest that God can use even my normal skills for His glory. Thank you.
< Message edited by caleb.motupalli -- 6/22/2008 10:54:59 AM >
_____________________________
Caleb S. Motupalli
|
|
|
|
New Messages |
No New Messages |
Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
Locked w/ New Messages |
Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|