Tax office wants charities monitored

THE tax office wants a special body set up to monitor "not-for-profit" charities, admitting that churches such as the multi-million-dollar phenomenon Hillsong are "invisible" to them.
And the sector is expanding so rapidly that $30 billion a year is now being drawn out of the Federal Budget in tax exemptions to the ever-expanding list of groups claiming church and charity status.

The push to put the not-for-profit groups under greater financial scrutiny comes amid revelations that senior pastors of mega church Hillsong and their families enjoy lavish lifestyles virtually tax free.

The Sunday Herald Sun can also reveal Hillsong founder Brian Houston uses a not-for-profit company, Leadership Ministries Inc, to fund a burgeoning tax-free global preaching empire.

LMI and other tax-free companies in the Hillsong network provide housing, cars, overseas travel, accommodation, credit cards and other perks free of fringe benefits or income tax.


Since LMI was set up in 2001 the Houston family's relationship with the company has included:


PROPERTY deals that have earned Houston and wife Bobbie $1.3 million. The Houstons are still tenants of the waterfront properties at Bondi Beach and Wilberforce on the Hawkesbury River.

A $1 MILLION FBT-free expense account each year for five employees, including the Houstons.

FULLY funded overseas tours where Mr Houston can earn up to US$20,000 a speech in "love offerings" on the international preaching circuit.

THE refund of all GST paid by the Houstons in their pastoral duties back to LMI.

THE creation of a network of offshore Hillsong subsidiaries.

Assemblies of God pastors around Australia take 75-90 per cent of their salaries as tax-free fringe benefits.

Hillsong finance director Peter Ridley, who is also the public officer of LMI, said the pastor paid personal income tax and had "a personal salary package" of just over $300,000.

Mr Houston added: "My salary has been consistent throughout the year and includes fringe benefits. I pay personal income tax."

Churches are corporations, they should pay the same tax as any other corporation. If they are ever made to pay tax, the money would come out of whatever they designate to the needy. They would make sure the church keeps the bulk of monies.

If all churches put all their earnings into feeding the poor, there would be no hunger in the world, but grand buildings and other luxuries come first.

Hillsong is all about the prosperity message.
God wants you to be prosperous - rich.
You don't have to feel guilty that you have money
as long as you give some to them.

Show me the moneyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Bobby. wrote on Jul 27^th, 2010 at 11:44pm:


Whilst 40,000 children die of starvation or hunger related diseases each day, HillSux want their parishioners to think that God has a special plan for them and is more likely to answer their prayers for a better car, a better job, or a payrise,  whilst ignoring the plight of 40,000 starving children who's only need is a dollar's worth of food

The message I get from HillSux  is that the more the wealthy country you live in the more likely God answers your prayers for more material wealth !! This would explain why God ignores the plight of children in impoverished countries