Pope Leo XIV: First American Pope raises questions about whether he must pay taxes
The United States taxes its citizens living abroad, including foreign-based income.
The Pope is entitled to a monthly stipend up to $33,000, totaling almost $400,000, annually.
His tax liability could exceed $135,000.
HOUSTON - Pope Leo XIV will be officially inaugurated in a special mass at the Vatican on Sunday.
A conversation of curiosity has grown, since the election of the first American Pope, over whether he has to pay taxes. While almost all of the pontiff's needs will be taken care of by the church, he is entitled to a salary of up to $33,000 a month, totaling almost $400,000 a year. Fortune magazine estimates such an income could mean a tax bill of more that $135,000.
The IRS has no blanket exception for religious personnel, nor for people who are diplomats or heads of state for foreign countries such as the Vatican. The last three popes all declined their monthly stipend, and as a member of the Augustinian order, Pope Leo did take an oath of poverty and could defer the money to them. As he remains an American citizen, U.S. taw law suggests the Pope would have to file a tax return if he collects any of the stipend.
Since this is uncharted territory, prevailing expectation leans toward the I.R.S. privately addressing the question, or Congress passing a law that outlines the tax situation for the Pope.
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