Bishop Chairmen Applaud Repeal of “Parking Lot Tax” on Houses of Worship and Nonprofits

WASHINGTON–A recently-passed provision to repeal a section in the U.S. tax code has the support of chairmen of two committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The provision repeals Section 512(a)(7), commonly called the “parking lot tax” because it taxes nonprofit organizations,

WASHINGTON–A recently-passed provision to repeal a section in the U.S. tax code has the support of chairmen of two committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The provision repeals Section 512(a)(7), commonly called the “parking lot tax” because it taxes nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, for the cost of parking and transit benefits they provide to their employees.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop George V. Murry, S.J. of Youngstown, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, issued a statement in support of the repeal:

“Houses of worship and charitable organizations provide invaluable spiritual care, social services, and support in every community in our country. Especially during this time of year, we remember the ongoing good work happening through these organizations. To impose a new tax on these entities was wrong in the first place. We applaud Congress for amending the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate this burdensome tax. By requiring nonprofits and houses of worship to pay taxes on parking and transit benefits provided for their employees, Section 512(a)(7) entangles the IRS with houses of worship and drains the charitable sector of vital resources. We welcome its repeal.”

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Keywords: Archbishop Paul Coakley, Bishop George Murry, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Committee on Justice and Human Development, Committee on Religious Liberty, Congress, House, Senate, parking lot tax, religious liberty, religious freedom.

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