Showing proof that you are a full tithe payer

[LiveCoug]

A thread on the Baylor board got me thinking... have any of you ever been asked for proof that you are a full tithe payer? Never in my life have I heard that happening...

Here is the baylor fan who claims otherwise:

I over-generalized, but I've lived in Utah for a long time now and I am very close to plenty of LDS who have told me that they have been required to demonstrate proof of tithe to get their temple-recommend from their bishop. It is the bishop's prerogative. It doesn't happen everywhere, but it happens.

Regardless, I'm guessing to most people on this board even a pastor asking them if they are faithful tithers is unheard of.

[myboynoah]

A thread on the Baylor board got me thinking... have any of you ever been asked for proof that you are a full tithe payer? Never in my life have I heard that happening...

Here is the baylor fan who claims otherwise:

Never, but no doubt it has happened somewhere at sometime. I suspect that guy hears Mormons say they are asked if they pay tithing and is then interpreting that as being "required to demonstrate proof of tithe."

[wuapinmon]

It's nobody's damned business how much I make (or don't make).

[LiveCoug]

Never, but no doubt it has happened somewhere at sometime. I suspect that guy hears Mormons say they are asked if they pay tithing and is then interpreting that as being "required to demonstrate proof of tithe."

Here is a BYU fans post to which the baylor fan replied with what I posted in my original post:

Interesting how assumptions of tithing get started. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints a/k/a LDS or Mormons, practices the law of tithing. It is estimated about 30% of the church members actually live the law and this is done voluntarily without being ever asked for proof. However, it is true that members of the church who wish to participate in the most sacred of worship/ordinances in a temple, as opposed to going to church each week which is open to everyone and anyone, are asked by their designated leader a number of questions to determine the appropriateness of participating in such worship.

One of the questions asked is if the individual lives the law of tithing. A simple yes or no is all that is asked, not how much or other prying questions. Of the nearly 15 million members worldwide, not one has ever asked me for proof.
Oh, by the way, your basketball team is really good and I was glad that RG3 won the Heisman. Hope Baylor goes far in the tourney this year as they seem like a class group.

So, I really think the baylor fan believes that proof of tithing is required more often than not. I just don't understand why he would truly think that if he knows as many mormons as he says he does. Oh well.

[byu71]

I think people are prone to believe these stories because they follow BYU and are familiar with BYU's honor code.

In addition, no I have never been asked for proof and only once asked if I was paying on net or gross.

[Moliere]

How could someone show proof? To do that the church would have to come out with a calculation to determine how to calculate tithing payable (maybe they could issue a 1040T ). I don't want to get into another gross/net discussion, but even my bishop has told me that he deducts SS and 401k contributions before paying 10% since that technically is not an increase until you take it out of the retirement fund.

[Indy Coug]

Maybe some knucklehead tried to claim he was a full tithe payer with a $20 statement while owning a mansion and Jaguar and the bishop asked him to demonstrate how that was a full tithe.

Other than that....

[YOhio]

It's nobody's damned business how much I make (or don't make).

Not true. For example, the IRS and your employer.

[cougjunkie]

Maybe some knucklehead tried to claim he was a full tithe payer with a $20 statement while owning a mansion and Jaguar and the bishop asked him to demonstrate how that was a full tithe.

Other than that....

Even with this example the Bishop has no idea if you pay it to Salt Lake directly.

[doctorcoug]

My brother has tried to encourage me to pay as net equity, not just net. With that in mind, I'd pull in a couple of years of $200K and not pay a penny in tithing. That might raise the bishop's eyebrow to ask me to prove it.

[HauteCoug]

My brother has tried to encourage me to pay as net equity, not just net. With that in mind, I'd pull in a couple of years of $200K and not pay a penny in tithing. That might raise the bishop's eyebrow to ask me to prove it.

this would be very interesting to see happen.

[Pelado]

There are also strategies to employ to maximize the tax benefit of the charitable contribution deduction.

For example, those without many other itemized deductions could pay no tithing and claim the standard deduction one year, then pay 2 years worth of tithing the next year and itemize their deductions, then back to no tithing and the standard deduction the year after, and so on.

On a similar track, if someone were to donate appreciated property (stocks, rental property, etc.), whose value far exceeded 10% of their annual increase, I would have no problem considering that prepaid tithing, and foregoing payment for the appropriate number of years. Having no payment of tithing in subsequent years would not invalidate full tithe-payer status.

I do remember hearing a General Conference talk a while back - I think from Elder Nelson - in which he related when he met with his bishop for tithing settlement, that there was some error showing that he'd paid only a small amount. The bishop sheepishly expressed that he was under the impression that surgeons made more money. The error was then caught and corrected. Elder Nelson didn't mention any request for proof.

[snowcat]

[QUOTE=Pelado;735545]On a similar track, if someone were to donate appreciated property (stocks, rental property, etc.), [QUOTE]

Donating appreciated stock is a good tax strategy.

[happyone]

There are also strategies to employ to maximize the tax benefit of the charitable contribution deduction.

For example, those without many other itemized deductions could pay no tithing and claim the standard deduction one year, then pay 2 years worth of tithing the next year and itemize their deductions, then back to no tithing and the standard deduction the year after, and so on.
...

I'm almost to the point where this would be a good strategy

[Pelado]

[quote=snowcat;735609][QUOTE=Pelado;735545]On a similar track, if someone were to donate appreciated property (stocks, rental property, etc.),

Donating appreciated stock is a good tax strategy.

I agree - much better result than selling the stock and donating the proceeds.