From the book, “What People Ask About The Church,” by Dale A. Robbins — 48 — Donations to a church which possesses a nonprofit organization
status are tax exempt, and the church is required to retain records of donations and to
issue annual receipts in order for contributors to claim these as deductions from their
taxes. Most churches retain the envelopes as physical donation records to comply with IRS
laws. Donations made by check alone, with the donor's name and address, will probably
receive appropriate credit, but it is a help to a church's accounting to use an envelope. Some churches take note of their members stewardship patterns as indicative of their faithfulness to scripture and the support of the church. However, it is to be noted that giving (especially to the poor) was intended to be a private matter to be kept between the contributor and God (Matt. 6:1-4). Some consider the viewing of a contributor's offerings as a violation of that secrecy. This article is copyrighted © by Dale A. Robbins, 1995, and is a publication of Victorious Publications, Grass Valley, CA 95949. Unless otherwise stated, all scripture references were taken from The New King James Bible, © Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982.You may download for personal use as long as you retain credit to the author. Obtain permission before reproducing copies for any reason, by filling out our simple permission form. For media reproduction rights, or to obtain published quantities of this title, email us. |
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