The old stereotype that “the only thing you can rely on is death and taxes” is not exactly true. While we know people will die, taxes seem a little more elusive.
For most people, taxes are just what you have to pay from your paycheck each month. There are property taxes, sales taxes, gasoline taxes, school districts, special service districts, city taxes, CARE or RAP taxes.
Taxes are very onerous – just ask Brad Walton of Sevo Seventh-day Adventist Church.
While the Church’s mission, explained online, is to “promote a diverse and welcoming community committed to fearlessly following wherever God leads us and disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of Provo and the To make the world ”, there were some problems here year for the old church of the city.
As the first Church Elder, Walton received notice of Provo SDA’s tax exemption. It was a form the church had to submit in order to comply with the exemption, like all other churches in town.
Walton said he was a few days late in returning the requested information.
Due to COVID-19, the church was closed for several weeks so checking the mail wasn’t always the order of the day. Walton did not see the exemption papers that needed to be filled out.
In fact, Walton had never seen newspapers like this in years past.
“Utah County responded that we owed up to $ 20,000 in taxes because of the missed deadline and that we were no longer tax-exempt,” said Linda Walton, also an elder in the Church.
For as long as they can remember, they have not had to apply for exemption. “We’ve been a Provo church since 1887,” said Linda Walton.
It appears that the national organization has so far taken care of the Church’s tax exemptions. This information is still pending.
Seventh-day Adventists are not alone in their tax return puzzle.
The Rev. Susan Toone of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church said they had the same story and also missed the deadline within a day or two.
“We got the same letter in January or February and almost missed the deadline,” Toone said. “My question was why we got the letter in the first place. In the end we filled it out and sent it in just in time. “
There was a move at St. Mary’s and there was no indication that they should file a complaint, no one knew about it, Toone said.
David Lewis told the Provo Community Congregational United Church of Christ that the church is subordinate to the national organization of the United Church of Christ.
“We don’t have to reapply every year. We are under the umbrella of the United Church of Christ, ”said Lewis. “We have to apply to the district for exemption from property tax.”
According to the Utah prosecutor’s office, there is a tax exemption process that allows Seventh-day Adventists to step in and take care of the tax situation.
“I think the county is just trying to cross its T and I dots,” said Sherrie Hall Everett, office spokeswoman for the Utah District Attorney.
According to the state tax commission, the church has lost its exemption for this year, but it also has the option to go before the compensation committee.
The county could also waive or excuse the tax for a year. The Church can challenge the valuation like any other taxpayer.
Letters to this effect will be sent out to individuals, nonprofits, and churches this week. Applications are due on September 13th.
In the meantime, Brad Walton checks with the national church organization to see if the ball was dropped from this level.
It is not an easy thing to ask for $ 20,000 from a nonprofit like Seventh-day Adventists or any other church.
Right now the church can hope for an answer to her prayer that everything will work out and for the generosity of the district commission, which would have to approve the cut in payment for 2021.
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