NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Catholic Church escapes controversial new Irish household charge

Catholic Church escapes controversial new Irish household charge

Palaces and parochial houses exempt from tax

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, April 22, 2012, 10:06 AM

Updated Sunday, April 22, 2012, 10:06 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

11 Comments

The Catholic Church will not have to pay the new Irish household charge.

Photo by Google Images

Ireland’s bishops won’t have to pay the controversial household charge that has hit every homeowner in the pocket.

The Irish Mail on Sunday has revealed that the Catholic Church will not pay a penny in household charges.

The Church, widely acknowledged as the biggest property owner in the Irish State, will escape the $130 charge according to the report.

With up to 10,000 properties on its books, the Church will save a small fortune on charges.

The report states that the Catholic Church has an exemption from all property taxes because it is a charity.

All parochial houses and even Bishop’s palaces are exempt under the ruling.

The government could lose over $1.5 million in revenue with the charge expected to hit $500 next year.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Ireland told the paper that all properties held by it in Ireland are "effectively exempt."

The spokesman said: “The Local Government Household Charge Act 2011 provides for exemptions from payment of the household charge to certain charities.

“To date, charities who have obtained a charity number (CHY) are exempt from payment of taxes. Church property in the majority of Irish dioceses is held in a diocesan trust, has a CHY number and is regarded as a charity.

“Where it is held under another structure the title holders clearly hold the property in trust for the diocese and the property has the same status.

“All Church property - which includes churches, schools and priests’ houses - are the property of parishes and dioceses. As such, they are exempt from tax.”

The Church has sought clarification on the issue after the Italian government reversed a similar ruling.

The spokesman added: “The Irish Bishops’ Conference established a Diocesan Advisory Committee some years ago to help prepare for the introduction of the Charities Act 2009.

“In the context of the household charge, the bishops’ committee has sought clarification on this matter. There has been no official reply to date.”

Nster.com

E-mail

11 Comments

See all comments

el rubio | May 01, 2012, 03:10 PM EDT

Intercessor, Or you could do what one columnist suggested and kick a catholic priest to death every day. That would satisfy the bloodlust. Or would it?

Report abuse

el rubio | May 01, 2012, 03:08 PM EDT

esatdigiwank 'Is the RC church masquerading as a Charity not a form of (tax) evasion.' Only if one would assert that the C of I and Paisley's Church are similarly masquerading as charities. Or are you just a bigot who wishes to destroy a particular religious body because you dislike the beliefs to which it adheres?

Report abuse

Intercessor | Apr 25, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT

Well, one way to recoup some of the money that the Church has cost the State in the on-going Priest Pedophilia Scandal would be to simply force the sale of miscellaneous Church properties, like homes and farms willed to the Church. Then, there wouldn't be a problem with the Church not paying taxes on them, because they'd be owned by someone else: A real live TAXPAYER!

Report abuse

esatdigiwank | Apr 24, 2012, 05:37 AM EDT

El Rubio, go re-join your Flock. The one-track-mind sheep are baa-ing furiously and want you back.

Report abuse

esatdigiwank | Apr 24, 2012, 05:35 AM EDT

"Are other religious denominations, the Church of Ireland, or the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, for example, similarly exempt from paying such taxes?" If they are registered as a charity like the RC church is, they are exempt. Is the RC church masquerading as a Charity not a form of (tax) evasion.

Report abuse

el rubio | Apr 23, 2012, 08:01 PM EDT

This article is very poorly written. Are other religious denominations, the Church of Ireland, or the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, for example, similarly exempt from paying such taxes? It is implied, though not overtly stated. Would the outraged lemmings below who spew such riteous indignation against all things Catholic be similarly outraged should those two denominations be likewise exempt from the fee? Such is the mob mentality in the new anti-Catholic Ireland, unfortunately.

Report abuse

Portia777 | Apr 23, 2012, 10:18 AM EDT

Rome still controls Eire- both church and state- so no surprise then. Yes, a church claims divine status and escapes taxes as they are unlawful in the eyes of God.

Report abuse

esatdigiwank | Apr 23, 2012, 01:47 AM EDT

Khayes: abolish the Constitution . RC church helped write it up to guarantee their status - they have it Every Way! Devious båstards getting their dividend. We need another a re-draft. Separation of Church and State now!!

Report abuse

Seanmor | Apr 22, 2012, 06:08 PM EDT

Property of other religious denominations should also continue to be tax-free in the Irish state as it the case in the U.S. I don't know if the Dail gov't imposes taxes on the proberty and income of non-charitable organizations such as the G.A.A., the I.C.A., Comhaltas Ceoltóirí etc.

Report abuse

khayes8684 | Apr 22, 2012, 04:43 PM EDT

Tax them!

Report abuse

VonLiebenitz | Apr 22, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT

Typical a bunch of clercis many of them child abusers and their enablers get of scot-free while the average hard working honest citizen gets lumped with it.Sickening.

Report abuse