They changed the charity law up here
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
February 16, 2010 9:35am CST
In Canada, before when we put money in the collection plate, the government did not care as long as it was going to some worthy cause, but now with the mistrust of things Christians, they want specific records of where it is going and what would be used for. Now even though most and all money went to help the needy, and for the mission field, for some reason because Christians are so maligned, many did not believe it and figured the money went to a playground ala Tammy Fay or for the minister's brand new Rolls Royce.
Now the good thing about the new rules is now that if you write a check and put it in the collection plate, that is considered tax deductible. The bad thing is that does not apply to coins and many of our congregation can only afford to throw in coins.
There are two ways around it, increase the offerings so you can write a check each time (we have two services on Sundays) or wait until you have enough from your regular offering to make up a check. So it could be instead of giving an offering every Sunday, it would be every month.
Now I have money that I consider my church money apart from the tithes that comes from my pension and is taken off the top. From that church money, that includes money for shower and wedding gifts for church members, money for things that church members got me, for rides to church functions, etc. books for bible study, and offerings. Any money from that fund that goes to another person i consider is robbery. That is another story by the way. The point is sometimes I do not have enough to write out a check to claim the deducutible. so right now it is the coin bit.
So would the fact that offerings in the collection plate change the way you are giving or will you still do what was done in the past and throw in the toonies, loonies, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies anyway.
6 people like this
16 responses
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
16 Feb 10
I would save it all up, and give a larger donation less frequently, so that I could get it deducted from my taxes. The church would still be getting the money, and I'd get a reduction. If we wait, and make a larger donation by check, then everybody wins. Also, I prefer to give a check at the office, as opposed to putting money into a plate when everyone is watching me.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I use an envelope for my offering checks and still put them in the offering plate. Then no one but the treasurer sees what I put in. Even if I am putting in dollar bills or fives or whatever, I fold them so that denomination of the bill does not show and it cannot be seen. There is always going to be someone, if only the treasurer who counts it that knows what I have given. I guess I do not worry too much about that, though, but just give anyway. In places that do not have offering envelopes I will fold my check so that it does not show what I have given. Either I am very fortunate, or very naive, as I have never known of anyone that felt compelled to peek at anyone else's offerings and tithes.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Feb 10
When I was a girl we went to another church and we had envelopes for offerings, but then I did not know whether it was deductible or not. I do not have enough money to save until I can write a check and it depends on when I can get to a bank to deposit my church money and then write out a check. Our offering bags are designed so no one can see what they put in it, but this now that offerings are deductible would be hard on those who do not make enough to write a check.
With the tithes, we get envelopes and they are deductible but I doubt that we will get envelopes for offerings.
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I give what I have to give at the time. I pay
my tithes at the beginning of the month, then
during the month, I give offerings as I have
them. I consider my giving unto God. I trust
him to see that they go where they need to.
Happy posting.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Feb 10
I pay my tithes the same way and then give offerings. I know that God directs our hands and HE is supremely wiser then any government. I also know that the government contains people who hate Christians and want to use any excuse to take money from the church and by regulating the giving, they can do that. Also there are those who consider that the offerings are going for luxury items such as trips to Bermuda when there are no reason to go (no earthquakes, no natural disasters, no famines, etc) and they think that they can stem the offerings, but God will bring their plans to naught.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I think I would go ahead with the coins. I don't give for a tax deduction, I give because I want to. I will take the deduction if it's there, of course, but if it isn't, I would still give in the way that works for me.
The government doesn't need to know everything I do. "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God, that which is God's."
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Feb 10
I can see the government not wanting to take away from the churches, but I do not like the idea of the government monitoring and seeing whether what goes into the collection plate goes to the downtown missions but cannot be used to help your neighbor in need. Also if a service has some political indications, then the government might refuse to give tax credits for that charity. And also since there are some who cannot afford to write a check every week and just put in coins, these are the ones that need the tax deductions more.
Anyway I will still put in my money. They cannot monitor coins.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I thought what went into the collection plates was to pay the preacher!!!
OUr church dont pass the plate just have the tithings supossed to be 10% of your check hmmmmmmmmmm cant do it.
any way none of this money goes for missionarys or anything like thaqt that I ever saw I know the missionaries familys have to foot the bill for them being on a mission and the mission last for 2 years.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Feb 10
In our church we get 12 tithing envelopes to cover the year and put the money in it every month. The offerings are for the missions and the poor at home and abroad. Also what happens is that people donate money for the missionaries. The minister's salary comes out of the tithes although we sometimes have a special fund set up if there is a new minister free from seminary school and will build him a house with volunteer labor.
Our new minister did not have much when he came here as he had just graduated. He had hand me down furniture.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
23 Feb 10
Our pastor went to seminary school, took Latin, Greek, Hebrew, learned to preach, studied the Bible backwards and forwards and has to write his own sermons. So part of the tithe goes for his salary, as well as that of the house insurance, etc. and we also buy the manse. The money from the offerings goes for the families who need help and for missions, etc. Some of the congregation put large amounts in it. I do not put that much, but since now my husband is a member of the church, we have to increase our tithes, but in our church there is no set 10 percent rule.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Feb 10
hi suspenseful As I have very little spending money left from my Social Security check and SSI checks, I have to do what I have always done in
the pat, throw in the quarters and and dollar bills. By the way
just what are toonies, and loonies? inquiring minds want to know.
A Canadian term or what?
1 person likes this
@sulynsi (2671)
• Canada
16 Feb 10
Loonies are our dollar coin. It has a loon on the back.
Twonies rhyme with loonie, and they are the TWO dollar coin.
Loonies are gold in colour, an twonies are two tone, gold coloured ring outside a silver toned centre. Nice actually.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Feb 10
Most put in either loonies or twonies. Most of the time the parents give the children loonies so they can put it in the offering bag themselves. There are a few who make enough to put in five dollars, or more and some will put in a check when there is a call for help - like Haiti.
But for me a loonie is still the one dollar bill and the twonie the two dollar bill and I think the government made them coins perhaps to raise the prices on everything.
I am not at that stage yet, gradually increasing my offerings although this month I will be unable to do so.
the other way round for the twonie! Toonie or however you want to spell it.
@crysontherocks77 (1273)
• United States
24 Jul 10
I would have to agree with saving it up. Considering what they are requiring now. You can always take it to someone that has a checking account or create on just for this occasion.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
5 Apr 11
I have decided to write a check. It makes it much easier and besides I know that the money will go to where it could help others. The trouble is that whereas the government will accept helping the downtown missions or the missions, or homes for the aged, or the infirm, what happens when a member of our church falls on hard times and is still living in their own house, so they have to regard on the coins or dollar bills that go into the collection plate as there might not be an official record of their poverty in the government records.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
17 Feb 10
hmmmm, too bad there wasn't lots more oversight on politicians' funding and money spent..
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
23 Feb 10
Oh they do not think of it. Politicians can take trips for no reason and travel first class. And they can attend all those fancy suppers. That is really not fair.
@ErrollLeVant (4353)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I thank God it has been a long time since I only had coins to put in the plate. I would like to think that my contributions would not change dependent on the tax code.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
23 Feb 10
I can only give coins and since we now have one dollar and two dollar coins that is not subject to the tax laws. I am sure that many of the members who give checks would not want any member who needs help, passed by, but there are some who really do need the tax deductions. But is a tricky situation.
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I have a change jar that I use for various reasons, and when I see a cause that I want to donate to, I may put the whole thing in, never knowing what I have given, only knowing that I have given a blessing to someone. That is the purest kind of charity to me, just as slipping a bill in to an envelope in a Sunday School Class. I also want to be eligible for the tax deductions, so my main tithe or offering is written as a check so that there is a record. I guess I do some of both. I have had a friend in the past criticize me for wanting the deduction, but you know what, I also want the deduction when I donate goods to a thrift store or buy something as a fundraiser for an organization that is charitable but is not a church. I think the Bible tells us to be innocent as lambs, but wise a serpents. I take that to be that we need to have pure motives, but take advantage of what is available as well, like tax deductions. It is foolish not to get a deduction if you need it, as saving on taxes leaves you more to give to charity. In your case, I might save up for a check once a month. Being able to give is a blessing, not everyone can give.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Feb 10
I want to keep a record of my tithes, but with offerings, I really do not care only I do not have a big enough pension so that I can slip in ten dollars or more, and most of the time it is less then a dollar. I do not think it is wrong to want a tax deduction because that means the government recognizes that you are helping others, making them better citizens. I do think saving up for a check once a month is a good idea, but that would mean I can afford to give two dollars a week, but right now I cannot. Also our church has to make sure there are envelopes, also how to write the checks, etc. so it might take a bit of time before it is put into plate.
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Well, charitable organizations often receive tax breaks from the government and I think that as a result the government has the lawful discretion of demanding to see activities. If they are doing what they allege they are doing, then they should simply keep record and provide them when request is made.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
23 Feb 10
The trouble is that what is requested. For instance, our church offerings go to help the members of the church who need help - such as with us, those who are poor (we have a couple of needy families in the neighborhood), but these will probably be disallowed whereas the mission downtown, plus the mission fields abroad will be covered. So the ones who do the former will be dependent on those who really need the tax break but can afford to only put in coins - since we are already paying the tithes.
It is not as if we are buying fur coats or sending people on a trip to Bermuda.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
16 Feb 10
They started the same thing in the US as far as tax deductible charitable donations. If you don't have a receipt or canceled check, you can't claim it as a deduction on your income tax return. This actually wasn't meant to hurt the charities (although I think it may have) but to stop people from claiming donations that they didn't make. Many people tell me - as their tax preparer - that they donated $5,000 all year when they aren't able to produce one single receipt or canceled check.
If you use the envelopes to make your donations at church, they normally keep a record of your total years worth of donations (cash and check) and give you a statement at the end of the year to use for your income taxes.
Personally, I will usually write a check for any donation I make, or use my credit card so I have a record of it. I do know that last summer I was somewhat surprised to see that many people still donated cash to help me with my 3-Day Walk fundraising. I also heard that in 2008, the Salvation Army started taking credit cards at some of their bell-ringer locations in North Carolina so that people would have a receipt. I don't know if that was true, but it seems kinda funny! I'd just throw in the change and not worry about it!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Feb 10
For our tithes, we put them in an envelope and either cash or check or both, and then we get a statement at the beginning of the next year telling how much we donated through the year and that is sent to the tax department or income tax, but with donations to the seminary, etc. they expect us to write a check as the seminary is in another province. the same if you want to support a specific mission field, like in the Middle East, or the former Soviet Union.
But with the offerings, they will give a receipt if you put in a check. The trouble is you have to write it to make any sense. a fifty cent check will not do it, not even a five dollar one, but I suppose it would be for $10 or more.
@ronnyb (6113)
• Jamaica
16 Feb 10
It is so sad when state has to intervene in matters of the church because they are prtecting the interets o fthe church from unscrupuous church member especially when this is being done in the name of charity .However I see where the state are going with this and as much as it hurts to hear ,I guess you may have to bear with it atleast as far as it is now and hope that they will change it soon .So sorry to hear,keep the faith my friend
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Feb 10
It hurts when the State or the government assumes that church goers who give tithes and offerings are giving it for the wrong methods. I know that tithes are supposed to further the gospel and pay the minister's salary as well as improve the church, but with the offerings it is wrong for the state to interfere.
After all it is just as important to help a member in need as it is to give to the downtown mission.
@coolcoder (2018)
• United States
5 Apr 10
Tithe whatever you can afford at the time. Times are pretty rough at the moment, so a lot of people might not be able to afford the full 10% to write out a check for. I think that as long as you make a very good effort to put some money in the collections plate, God is pleased. That's just me, though.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
12 Jul 10
My friends told me that they give a specific amount and have not figured out whether it is ten percent or not. They feel it is a general guideline and that it is that you have to give the first fruits of your income. I usually put a check in every five or six weeks or so as I really need that deduction and I also think that government feels as long as we are giving money to charity, they do not need to do it. As long as I give it willingly and not worry about "do I need it for something else,: which is what happened when I felt I had to give ten percent at least.
@doglady112 (604)
• Canada
17 Feb 10
I don't think I really care much about trying to get my donation back through the government. I don't make enough to get it back through the government. Anyway my husband collects all my donations when he does his taxes. I usually just give toonies in the collection plate.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
23 Feb 10
I am lucky if I am able to give a loonie. I have some money that is church money and that goes for anything doing with church activities, and that includes books for Bible study, showers, and weddings, helping out - for instance if the group I am with does the baking, I have to use that money for buying cookies, or bakery stuff.
The taxes will not affect me, unless (seeing I was born in Scotland although not Scottish )I decide to save up my nickels, dimes, and quarters and forgo offerings until I have enough to write a check. But I am not going to do it as there is always someone who needs help.
)I decide to save up my nickels, dimes, and quarters and forgo offerings until I have enough to write a check. But I am not going to do it as there is always someone who needs help.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I would give even if it weren't tax deductible. After all, God knows that I do it and that's all that really matters. But it makes it easier if it's deductible. I don't know if they actually did it yet but our government was talking about cutting down how much you can claim on your charitable giving. Maybe your church could have optional giving 3 weeks so that you can save up for a check each month? Or, you can put an empty envelope in the plate till you have enough for a check if people tend to judge you if they don't see you put something in. There aren't many of those types of people but they sure can do a lot of damage with their wagging tongues.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Feb 10
I was thinking of giving once a month, but I do have some change for offerings and it is hard for me to go to the bank and deposit the money with my husband not being well and all that. So it is easier for me to put in the coins. I do think that offerings are sacrificial that you are not supposed to know what your right hand does , but it would be easier. We do not have to worry about the empty envelope since our bags are deep enough so no one knows how much anyone gives.
It was not like when I was in P.E.I. and they had just those shallow collection plates and I felt embarrassed as everyone put in $5 and $10 and I could only put in a quarter.
@tdiamond33 (330)
• Canada
16 Feb 10
The collection plate is a big issue for me personally. My Mother in-law goes to church every Sunday, and when she goes she has to give offering in the collection plate. She puts at least 5 dollars each week into the plate. It doesn't stop there though. Sometimes when she goes to church for that Sunday morning, the church will have more services throughout the day which means she has to throw in a collection for each service. That can add up. I feel that some churches collect way too much offerings from people each week. What if you are really down on money, are you required to go to church with empty hands. That's how it is for a lot of people.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Feb 10
We do not have that worry. We have church twice on Sundays and sometimes we will have a special service in the evening if there is a need like for instance, the earthquake in Haiti, or the need to minister to those in the Middle East, etc. There are those who cannot give and when the collection bag goes around, they do not give anything. Some of the congregation gives their offerings only once a month because that is all they can afford and many just give when they have change in their pocket.
Since the offerings go for the poor in our congregation first, there is no need for any to put in more then they can afford. The trouble with charity receipts is what the government considers the money would be used for. Paying for groceries for the new widower might not be considered a charity deduction even though he might be crippled, but giving to the Downtown Mission might. So it could be that those in the neighborhood who need help would be getting less and those in the Mission field, more.
