In many countries in Europe where there were a state church, the church was not only extempt from taxes, it could also levy taxes itself - tithes and land rent on land it owned. The Swedish state church, which remained the state church up to 2000, collected taxes on all its members (and still do, but now membership is not automatic if one of your parents are a member). This is done through the national revenue service (skatteverket).

Peasants could owe tithes in goods (grain, milk, butter and so on), money or corvee labour.

It seems like the priests were extempt from taxation on their property in ancient Egypt (as is noted in the bible).

The catholic and orthodox churches were usually extempt from taxes on their land from when christianity became the state religion in the Roman Empire - the whole render unto Caesar and render unto God thing.