3 ms·

But actually the state (society) decides which donations are tax deductible.

by chki 7y ago

loeg 7y ago
Well, elected officials decided that very early in the US's history of personal income tax. It's not like we have direct democracy and 2020 society has voted to approve this policy. We didn't have a federal income tax before 1913, and the government added the charitable deduction during the 1917 WWI revenue act, which also raised the personal income tax rates. As far as I know it's simply never been touched since 1917. Some folks just object to that policy.
- wmf 7y ago
  The IRS still makes case-by-case decisions about which organizations are legally charities so there is oversight.
  - loeg 7y ago
    You're not wrong, but I don't think this is responsive to my comment. Maybe replying to the wrong one on accident? (Also: any organization can claim religious status and becomes essentially exempt from IRS review of charitable status. See: Scientology. Not that I expect Bezos' fund to do that.)
    - wmf 7y ago
      You make it sound like "decides which donations are tax deductible" was done 100 years ago and never changed which isn't the case. Now if you'll excuse me I have to file some paperwork for the Church of the V8...
      - loeg 7y ago
        I didn't say that and I'm sorry it was unclear. I said: > the government added the charitable deduction during the 1917 WWI revenue act The distinction I was trying to draw was that prior to 1917, charitable giving could not be deducted at all, and what changed was that the legislature of the time decided to make it so. It's 100 years ago, but really not that long compared to the history of this country. If you want to say the IRS represents the will of society, I think I would mildly disagree. They're not elected. That said, they are largely governed by rules set forth by the legislature, who are at least elected, if not always representative.

3 ms·

But actually the state (society) decides which donations are tax deductible.

by chki 7y ago

But actually the state (society) decides which donations are tax deductible.

loeg 7y ago
Well, elected officials decided that very early in the US's history of personal income tax. It's not like we have direct democracy and 2020 society has voted to approve this policy. We didn't have a federal income tax before 1913, and the government added the charitable deduction during the 1917 WWI revenue act, which also raised the personal income tax rates. As far as I know it's simply never been touched since 1917. Some folks just object to that policy.
- wmf 7y ago
  The IRS still makes case-by-case decisions about which organizations are legally charities so there is oversight.
  - loeg 7y ago
    You're not wrong, but I don't think this is responsive to my comment. Maybe replying to the wrong one on accident? (Also: any organization can claim religious status and becomes essentially exempt from IRS review of charitable status. See: Scientology. Not that I expect Bezos' fund to do that.)
    - wmf 7y ago
      You make it sound like "decides which donations are tax deductible" was done 100 years ago and never changed which isn't the case. Now if you'll excuse me I have to file some paperwork for the Church of the V8...
      - loeg 7y ago
        I didn't say that and I'm sorry it was unclear. I said: > the government added the charitable deduction during the 1917 WWI revenue act The distinction I was trying to draw was that prior to 1917, charitable giving could not be deducted at all, and what changed was that the legislature of the time decided to make it so. It's 100 years ago, but really not that long compared to the history of this country. If you want to say the IRS represents the will of society, I think I would mildly disagree. They're not elected. That said, they are largely governed by rules set forth by the legislature, who are at least elected, if not always representative.