He tried to deduct expenses including generous tips to restaurant servers and private planes as he spread the gospel across the U.S.
Devout Catholic Robert Oliveri spent almost $40,000 as he crisscrossed the country and paid for meals and gifts to strangers and acquaintances in his evangelical activities, a Tax Court judge said the expenses didn’t count as tax deductible contributions to charity.
After more than 26 years with the U.S. Air Force, Oliveri retired from the service in 1986 and became very active in the Catholic Church. Robert Oliveri ‘evangelizes people he happens to see when he engages in otherwise personal activities, such as when he eats in restaurants, travels, and pilots private planes,’ the decision said. The Annapolis, Md.-area resident paid for people’s meals and coffee, often leaving generous tips. He testified he did that on the hope his waiters would think “God cares for them and they’re very special.
As Oliveri prepared his 2012 taxes, he said his expenses counted as $39,979 in charitable contributions for the Brothers and Sisters of the Divine Mercy and the Catholic Church, including $15,082 for small plane rentals, which Oliveri categorized as “Evangelization: Christian Outreach.” Oliveri testified he liked flying, but it wasn’t “for [his] personal use at all…It’s all for my work for God.”
The evangelist testified that he wants people to know that ‘God cares for them and they’re very special.’ He gave away ornaments, books and videos, and even a $500 Bass Pro Shops gift card. But tax issues and religious views can collide from time to time. For instance, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, a watchdog within the IRS, is now worried current tax rules are treating the Amish unfairly.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
IRS must investigate NRA’s tax-exempt status | OpinionIf the allegations against the organization are true, Americans should not be forced to effectively subsidize the NRA.
Read more »
IRS Releases New Draft Form W-4 To Help Taxpayers Avoid Withholding SurprisesLast year, after pushback from taxpayers and tax professionals, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) promised to revisit form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Today, the IRS issued a draft of the 2020 Form W-4.
Read more »
Stocks slump after Trump expands trade war to MexicoThe IRS has proposed an update to the Form W-4 that it says will increase its accuracy and reduce its complexity. But experts caution that it will feel different to employees and may prove a bit more difficult for some.
Read more »
IRS must investigate NRA’s tax-exempt status | OpinionIf the allegations against the organization are true, Americans should not be forced to effectively subsidize the NRA.
Read more »
Evangelist Franklin Graham calls Christians to 'pray for God to intervene' in strengthening Trump against enemies“President Trump’s enemies continue to try everything to destroy him, his family, and the presidency,' Graham said.
Read more »
Six personal-finance hacks that aren’t easy but promise a big payoffCollaborative Fund’s Morgan Housel on how to move the needle when it comes to your money.
Read more »
IRS Releases New Draft Form W-4 To Help Taxpayers Avoid Withholding SurprisesLast year, after pushback from taxpayers and tax professionals, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) promised to revisit form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Today, the IRS issued a draft of the 2020 Form W-4.
Read more »
LAUSD says it needs the Measure EE tax. Skeptics say the district has a spending problemCritics of the new tax say it is too soon to trust L.A. Unified with a financial windfall and contend substantial funds would be available to help students if the district simply improved its management.
Read more »
Thief snatches tip jar filled with college tuition savings from family businessA mother had saved about $4,000 and was planning to take the money to the bank when a thief snatched the cash-stuffed jar earlier this month.
Read more »