Poll results
Should the church tax be abolished?
Support
Reject
Don't know
PolitPro Community – 3959 respondents – 12.10.2023-19.10.2023
Poll information
Should the church tax be abolished? 86% of respondents are in favor of the church tax being abolished, while 24% are against it.
:undecided% chose the answer "Don't know". The survey was conducted among 3959 users of the PolitPro app during 12.10.2023-19.10.2023. The results are not representative, but may give a rough idea of the political mood around the issue.
Pros - What's in favor?
- Freedom of religion: abolishing the church tax could be seen as strengthening freedom of religion. Allowing people to choose whether or not to contribute financially to support a religious community respects their individual beliefs and convictions. Everyone should have the right to decide for themselves about their financial support of religious institutions.
- Simplification of the tax system: The abolition of the church tax would lead to a simplification of the tax system. Church tax is an additional aspect of the tax code that often involves complex calculations and explanations. Abolition could simplify tax returns and the administration of tax revenues.
- Equal treatment of all citizens: church tax mainly affects members of religious communities who have to pay this tax. Abolishing the church tax would ensure that all citizens are treated equally, regardless of their religious affiliation. This could be seen as a step toward a secular society in which there is no particular financial burden for religious activities.
Cons - What's against it?
- Funding of religious institutions: Church taxes are an important source of revenue for religious institutions, which they use to finance their activities. Eliminating the church tax could weaken the financial base of these institutions, which could affect their ability to support social and charitable projects.
- Preservation of cultural heritage: religious communities play a significant role in a country's cultural heritage. The church tax enables them to preserve and promote historic buildings, works of art, and cultural events. By abolishing the church tax, this cultural heritage could be endangered and in danger of being lost.
- Community responsibility: The church tax is based on the principle of community responsibility. It allows members of a religious community to contribute financially to the well-being of the community. The abolition of the church tax could reduce awareness of this communal responsibility and weaken cohesion within religious communities.