Re: I DISagree with both of you. - Edit 1
Before modification by Burr at 25/09/2012 02:31:02 PM
It is not that a portion of ALL income belongs to society; there are inevitable expenses to account for first, which we nominally recognize in things like Standard and Dependent Deductions. Many people live quite modestly despite quite large salaries, investments or other income, because they donate most of it to charity. It would be not only wrong but cruel to show up in April demanding 30% of their annual income after they gave away half of it.
In that regard, taxing a charitable organization or philanthropist isn't any different than taxing a private entity or non-philanthropist. If the latter are capable of financial management, then so are the former.