The Church of Scientology will not pay any more income tax after the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) declared it a charity, the church said today.
Announcing its decision on December 24, the IRD said the church was a charitable organisation dedicated to the advancement of religion and its income would be tax exempt.
Scientology spokesman Mike Ferris said in a statement today the decision was a "fantastic acknowledgment of the work we do for our parishioners and for our community".
The New Zealand branch of the church, started in the United States by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, was founded in Auckland in 1955.
- NZPA
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Man arrested, accused of threatening to kill former colleagues
Police say he turned up at his old workplace and made threats to the staff.