Does Da Pope Have to Pay Taxes? The $33K Monthly Salary Question

If you’ve ever stressed about your tax bill, consider the unique situation facing an American pontiff. Da pope — in this hypothetical scenario — would find himself navigating a distinctly modern problem: U.S. income tax obligations on a substantial ecclesiastical salary. Pope Leo XIV, the imagined first American pope from Chicago, would confront a question most spiritual leaders never face: does da pope owe Uncle Sam?

The short answer is likely yes. And it could get complicated.

Da Pope and U.S. Tax Law: No Exemptions for Religious Leaders

Here’s where things get interesting. The U.S. government maintains a simple rule for its citizens abroad: pay taxes on worldwide income, no exceptions. According to Edward A. David, an assistant professor in theology and religious studies at King’s College London, da pope wouldn’t qualify for any special religious exemption. “U.S. tax law claims the right to tax all citizens on their worldwide income,” David explained to The Washington Post.

Even more striking? Timothy Fogarty, an accounting professor at Case Western Reserve University, confirmed to Fortune that there’s no “blanket exception for religious personnel” — not even for diplomats or heads of state. So da pope’s status as spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide wouldn’t shield him from American tax authorities.

While churches in the U.S. enjoy tax-exempt status, that privilege doesn’t extend to individual clergy members who earn salaries. Da pope, despite his role, would be treated as an earning individual subject to federal income tax.

Calculating the Tax Bill: From €30,000 to $135,287 Annually

Let’s do the math. Da pope receives an annual ecclesiastical salary of approximately €30,000 per month—that’s roughly $33,000 monthly, or $396,000 per year at current exchange rates. Without strategic deductions, da pope’s tax liability could reach as much as $135,287 when combining federal and state self-employment taxes.

That’s a substantial hit from what already sounds like a generous compensation package. For context, this amount would place da pope in the upper-middle-income bracket for American earners, making his tax obligation particularly significant.

Deductions and Loopholes: What Da Pope Might Claim

Here’s where it gets slightly better for da pope. The IRS treats clergy members as self-employed for Social Security and Medicare purposes, which opens up certain deduction opportunities. Da pope could potentially claim the standard deduction of $14,600 right away—a starting point for reducing taxable income.

Beyond that, da pope might have legitimate business expense write-offs. Housing costs associated with Vatican-provided accommodations could potentially qualify, covering everything from furniture to utilities. The exact treatment depends on how these expenses are structured and documented.

However, calling da pope a “businessman” or “independent contractor” remains a gray area in tax law. This ambiguity could work either for or against him depending on how aggressively the IRS wants to interpret his employment status.

The Complication: Overseas Accounts and IRS Reporting

One additional wrinkle: da pope’s American citizenship combined with substantial overseas financial holdings could trigger specific IRS reporting requirements. Simply maintaining accounts outside the U.S. doesn’t constitute tax evasion, but it does create obligations.

Da pope would likely need to file Form 8938 with the IRS to report foreign financial assets. Additionally, in his capacity as signing authority for the Vatican Bank (which held over $6.1 billion in assets as of 2023), da pope might need to file a Foreign Bank Account Report with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Unit.

These filing requirements are strict, but compliance keeps da pope on the right side of American tax law.

The Real Twist: Most Popes Don’t Actually Claim Their Salary

Here’s the kicker—and the reason da pope might ultimately sidestep the entire tax dilemma: most popes simply don’t claim their salary. Pope Francis, for example, never accepted his. This historical precedent suggests da pope could potentially decline the compensation entirely, rendering the entire tax discussion moot.

So while da pope might be entitled to that $33,000 monthly paycheck, he could choose to opt out entirely, sidestepping both the $135,287 tax bill and the complex filing obligations. It’s the ultimate tax loophole—though one that requires genuine spiritual conviction rather than clever accounting.

The takeaway? Even da pope isn’t completely exempt from the ordinary challenges of modern taxation. But unlike most of us, he has one option available: simply refusing to accept the money in the first place.