Tithing

[Morris789]

I have a question about tithing...

I'm thinking about joining the Church but need to clarify a few practical things first.

Regarding tithing, I understand it's 10% of your salary or an increase. Therefore if you sold your house and made a profit, 10% of the profit would go to the church, right?

For example, if you earned 3000 per month gross and took home lets say 2200, will you be paying 300/month title or 220/month?

Similarly, if you sold your house and made a profit of 10 000, that's 1000 to the church - easy maths. But... what if your spouse was not a member of the church? and they owned 50% of the house, I assume the church only asks a tithe from the member? And how about the spouse's income? Does the church expect you to pay a tithe on the non-member spouse's income too?

[Soul_Searcher]

I have a question about tithing...

I'm thinking about joining the Church but need to clarify a few practical things first.

Regarding tithing, I understand it's 10% of your salary or an increase. Therefore if you sold your house and made a profit, 10% of the profit would go to the church, right?

I am not sure, but I think really it is upto you. My parents always left it upto us whether to pay tithing on birthday money or not. You could argue that if you pay tithing on your income, which pays your mortgage, you have already paid tithing on it.

For example, if you earned 3000 per month gross and took home lets say 2200, will you be paying 300/month title or 220/month?

That again, is entirely upto you. I only really just found out about paying on gross income. I was horrified! My reasoning is that as I don't see it, its not my increase therefore I would be paying more than 10%. I think you'll find that members will tell you that God didnt specifically state what your 'increase' was. Its to be left upto you to decide whats right.

Similarly, if you sold your house and made a profit of 10 000, that's 1000 to the church - easy maths. But... what if your spouse was not a member of the church? and they owned 50% of the house, I assume the church only asks a tithe from the member? And how about the spouse's income? Does the church expect you to pay a tithe on the non-member spouse's income too?

You would NOT be expected to pay on your spouses income. If our wife did not want tithing to go from the house sale, then I would respect her wishes. Some women who are members and do not workt cannot pay tithing if the husband is not a member. But I think they are classed as tithe payers. (someone might need to clarify that for me). Its about intent, really. If you believe God knows your heart and knows that you WOULD have paid tithing if you could, its the same as doing it.

[deseretgov]

As far as the gross vs. net tithing. I usually pay tithing on the number that is printed on my paycheck(net). Some say that you get services like insurance and things for the money they take out of your paycheck. Because of that you should pay tithing on the gross. I don't know which is right or wrong, I guess it's just a personal choice.

[MarginOfError]

I have a question about tithing...

I'm thinking about joining the Church but need to clarify a few practical things first.

Regarding tithing, I understand it's 10% of your salary or an increase. Therefore if you sold your house and made a profit, 10% of the profit would go to the church, right?

For example, if you earned 3000 per month gross and took home lets say 2200, will you be paying 300/month title or 220/month?

Similarly, if you sold your house and made a profit of 10 000, that's 1000 to the church - easy maths. But... what if your spouse was not a member of the church? and they owned 50% of the house, I assume the church only asks a tithe from the member? And how about the spouse's income? Does the church expect you to pay a tithe on the non-member spouse's income too?

I know people who pay tithing on their gross income and then don't pay tithing on their tax return. I also know people who pay tithing on their net income and then pay tithing on their tax return. There's no specific policy and it's up to you to decided what you're comfortable with.

As for selling a house, perhaps we should keep in mind what the Church's official statement on tithing is

The First Presidency has written: "The simplest statement we know of is the statement of the Lord himself, namely, that the members of the Church should pay 'one-tenth of all their interest annually,' which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this" (First Presidency letter, Mar. 19,1970; see also D&C 119:4).

Now, if I were selling my house with the intent of purchasing a different house, I probably wouldn't pay tithing since my intent is to improve my living situation, not to improve my income. However, if I sell the house to make a profit (say I bought the house to renovate and sell), then I would pay tithing on my income from the sale.

The principle of tithing is meant to teach us to do our part to support the Lord's work. It isn't meant to make us all into nitpicking accountants, nor is it intended to cause emotional distress. Generally, a simple way of evaluating your tithing is sufficient. If you get to the point that you require a spreadsheet to calculate your tithing, you've probably gone off the deep end.

[Morris789]

Ok, all very good and helpful replies.

I was just a bit concerned because I heard it's difficult to get a temple recommend if you haven't paid full tithe.

[Still_Small_Voice]

I was just a bit concerned because I heard it's difficult to get a temple recommend if you haven't paid full tithe.

Being a full tithe payer is one of the requirements to get a temple recommend. Some people worry about not having tithed in the past. I like the counsel to start doing it now and continue to do so. Don't worry about the past and what you haven't paid.

[Hemidakota]

I have a question about tithing...

I'm thinking about joining the Church but need to clarify a few practical things first.

Regarding tithing, I understand it's 10% of your salary or an increase. Therefore if you sold your house and made a profit, 10% of the profit would go to the church, right?

For example, if you earned 3000 per month gross and took home lets say 2200, will you be paying 300/month title or 220/month?

Similarly, if you sold your house and made a profit of 10 000, that's 1000 to the church - easy maths. But... what if your spouse was not a member of the church? and they owned 50% of the house, I assume the church only asks a tithe from the member? And how about the spouse's income? Does the church expect you to pay a tithe on the non-member spouse's income too?

Family income is tithed....a simply principle.

[Hemidakota]

Ok, all very good and helpful replies.

I was just a bit concerned because I heard it's difficult to get a temple recommend if you haven't paid full tithe.

Not just tithing could be an issue but Spiritual immaturity or not being obedience to FATHER's commandments could stop an individual from obtaining a Temple Recommend.

[Guest]

Ok, all very good and helpful replies.

I was just a bit concerned because I heard it's difficult to get a temple recommend if you haven't paid full tithe.

This is true but... the Bishop doesn't ask you to show your year-end statements, your year-end interests on your savings account, etc.

What he does is ask you, "Are you a full tithe payer?". If you say, "Yes", then you're good to go. I've been through a LOT of these temple recommend interviews and I can tell you, it is impossible for me to lie to the bishop. Just can't do it. It's just a big banging on my conscience... so, if you can honestly say "Yes" to the bishop on these interviews, then you must be doing it right.

[NeuroTypical]

Tithing is between you and the Lord. If you ask your Bishop about gross vs. net, he's likely to look up the scripture with you, where it says "increase". He'll then tell you it's up to you and the Lord to figure out what "increase" means.

So, you and the Lord figure it out, and then you either pay it or you don't. If you do, you're a full tithe payer. If you don't, you're not.

LM

[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)?