Do you tithe on your rental income?

Question

Hey BP community, this is a niche question for any Christians who have experience investing and penciling deals, so I'm not trying to start a broader conversation around religion.  But for those of you who are active in your church and regularly tithe your "regular" earnings or wages, do you also tithe 10% of your rental income and bake that into your deal calculations?

I came across this question when I was updating my budget for all sources of income and realized that I was tithing my salaried income and rental income, but that hadn't even been a thought on the front end of calculating viability of a rental. Then I realized that I don't tithe on my other investment income like security dividends, so why would real estate be different? Should I also be tithing my other investment income?

That's a separate question I'm wrestling with that I'm not looking for an answer to here, but I am curious about if you're really serious in the real estate game whether you're tithing your income or not and your rationale behind your choice.  Open to all answers and TIA for taking the time to read this and reply!

Janice Carter · Answer

@Ryan Richards I don’t tithe because I believe I need that money more than the pastor does. That said, I believe tithing is a personal decision based on your individual beliefs, values and financial priorities. Whether you choose to tithe from your regular earnings, investment income or both is ultimately a personal choice rather than one that should be influenced by any community. However, as a property manager, I would have an issue with a tenant prioritizing tithing while consistently being late with their rent. In my opinion, financial obligations should be met before discretionary giving.

Jeff Lee · Answer

I keep the business money and personal money separate. If business money comes out of the business account to me (to use personally), I tithe on that. If it stays in the business to grow the business, I don't tithe on it.