WASHINGTON, D.C. (WRN) — The U.S. Supreme Court rules a Wisconsin charity doesn’t have to pay state unemployment taxes.
Thursday’s unanimous ruling involves the Catholic Charities Bureau, which argued the state violated the U.S. Construction’s religious freedom guarantee by requiring payment of the tax while exempting other faith-based groups.
Wisconsin argued Catholic Charities has paid the tax for decades and isn’t exempt because day-to-day operations don’t involve religious teachings. Catholic Charities said it’s due the exemption because its disability services are motivated by religious beliefs.
It appealed a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling which upheld the state’s position to the U.S. Supreme Court.