LDS ChurchCourt dismisses second tithing fraud lawsuit on First Amendment grounds
A federal appeals court has dismissed another lawsuit claiming The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fraudulently collected tithing, ruling the case was filed too late and that courts cannot adjudicate religious spending decisions, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The decision effectively closes the door on future litigation stemming from IRS whistleblower David Nielsen's 2019 allegations that the Church improperly accumulated $100 billion in tax-exempt funds. The court found the statute of limitations had expired and that the First Amendment bars judicial review of how churches use donated funds.
September 3, 2026 at 11:03 AM MT · via The Salt Lake Tribune · 6 sources