Church Tax Collection Should Be Separated from State Tax Collection

A reader has proposed separating the collection of church taxes from the state's tax system, arguing that the church's finances are its own responsibility, not the tax authorities'. The opinion piece, published in Helsingin Sanomat, echoes a previous sentiment that the church cannot afford "free riders."

The writer fully agrees that the church has the right to collect membership dues from its members and manage those funds as it sees fit. However, they contend that the state's tax collection mechanism should be detached from this process.

Referencing recent government tax reforms aimed at reducing union membership and increasing disposable income for employees, the writer suggests a similar outcome could be achieved by ending mandatory church tax collection. This would, in principle, leave more money available for both employees and pensioners to spend.

Should individuals then choose to allocate funds towards church membership fees, the writer finds this acceptable. The piece concludes by stating that everyone has the right to belong to a community of their choice and to pay for it according to their own preferences.