Francisco D'Anconia

This is a great question! Tithing on Real estate or other type of physical property: I define increase as the difference between the purchase and sales price minus money spent on improvements. I define improvements as renovations like improving the kitchen, gutting and renovating the bathroom, etc. I do not subtract maintenance items like lawn care or even a replacement roof that is the same as the old one. Tithing on Income: I pay tithing on my gross salary. Tithing on the gross lets me justify paying more tithing - sweet! If my spouse was not a member, I would pay a tithe on only that portion that I feel I have a right to: 50% of the total family increase. I might offer my spouse the opportunity to contribute through me though if she felt that she wanted the blessings too. Revelation: Once I have a number of what I think is tithing then get on my knees with my spouse and ask if what I am paying what the Lord want me to pray. We are very fortunate and have received thoughts that come into our minds and discuss them openly. If we don't agree, then we pray again another time - its a great experience and I wonder if the Lord is intentionally vague in revealing specific church wide instructions about tithing to encourage us to do this process ourselves... Will your spouse, albeit not a member of the church, be okay with giving their advice on what you should do with your half and how you should pay? Will your spouse pray with you (or listen to you pray about it)?

I think I will tithe on any increase, but not on the principle (assuming that I already tithed on the principle before investing it). It is best with a couple of examples: Example 1: Investing in Stocks Earn $100,000 in salary. Pay tithing of $10,000 on this money in the year I earn it (leftover is $90,000 that I transfer to a specific investment stock account as cash). I can withdraw up to $90,000 tithing free. After the original $90,000 is returned, I tithe on the rest as it is withdrawn from the specific investment account. Funds can essentially compound in the investment account "tithing free" until I take them out as return of capital (not tithed a second time) or return on capital (tithed). When I close out the account, I first make sure that I have taken out the original $90,000 of investment and then pay tithing on the rest. Example 2: Investing in Businesses I would treat stocks (a part of a business) and private businesses the same. The only difference is liquidity. Earn $100,000 in salary. Pay tithing of $10,000 on this money in the year I earn it (leftover is $90,000 that I buy a mechanics shop with). I can withdraw up to $90,000 tithing free in salary, dividends and less tangible benefits from the business. After the equivalent value of $90,000 is returned, I tithe on the rest as it is withdrawn from the specific business. The value of the business could go up or down, the business could re-invest back into itself some of its profits without paying tithing. If the business is sold, I first make sure that I take out the original $90,000 tithing free and then tithe on the rest at that time. I would not have someone quote me on the value of my private business in the middle of operations and pay tithing (unless I felt a specific prompting to do so). Example 3: Investing in Currencies For investing in other currencies or gold, I would treat them like another investment account. However, if I am spending that money directly without physically switching over to my home currency, I would first pay tithing on that amount as if I had changed it to my home currency before making the purchase. I would not (again, unless prompted to), pay tithing on the current market price.