Walz v. Tax Commission of City of New York
United States Supreme Court
337 U.S. 664 (1970)
Relevant factsFree
New York's constitution exempted from property tax any real estate used solely for religious worship, alongside similar exemptions for hospitals, libraries, and nonprofit civic organizations; Walz (plaintiff), a property owner, sued to enjoin the Tax Commission (defendant) from applying the exemption, arguing it violated the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, and state courts granted summary judgment for the Commission.
IssueFree
Whether a property tax exemption for real estate used exclusively for religious purposes violates the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.