The plot thickens:
The Portland Diocese is backing a citizens referendum to repeal the marriage equality law recently signed by Maine's Gov. (see Nexa's post).
Now a group out of Cali called Empowering Spirits has filed a complaint with the IRS that the Portland Diocese is abusing it's tax exempt status by engaging in bi-partisan lobbying.
Don't many non-profits lobby?
STORY
- Forums
- Cross Site
- The Asylum
- God said..., the IRS said...
God said..., the IRS said...Follow
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Elinda wrote:
Don't many non-profits lobby?
If they start acting as a political organization (attempting to influence specific legislation rather than wider social issues) then they're no longer really a church in the eyes of the government and their supposed reason on file with the IRS becomes void. They could restructure as a political organization but I believe that comes with greater restrictions.
That's my understanding, anyway. I am not a tax laywer.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
They can lobby, but only with a certain percentage of their budget...I'm not sure what that amount is. They're also not allowed to officially support any particular candidate, I believe.
Nexa
Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
Link said under 10% of their budget.
Yep, that's pretty much all I had to contribute to this thread.
Yep, that's pretty much all I had to contribute to this thread.
Shaowstrike (Retired - FFXI)
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100
"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100
"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
Nexa wrote:
They can lobby, but only with a certain percentage of their budget...I'm not sure what that amount is. They're also not allowed to officially support any particular candidate, I believe.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Tax code sets limits on lobbying expenditures necessary to qualify as tax exempt.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode26/usc_sec_26_00000501----000-.html#h_5
EDIT: And yes it's a lot more complicated than the quoted section might imply.
Edited, May 22nd 2009 10:16am by Ahkuraj
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode26/usc_sec_26_00000501----000-.html#h_5
Section 501(h) of the tax code wrote:
(h) Expenditures by public charities to influence legislation
(1) General rule
In the case of an organization to which this subsection applies, exemption from taxation under subsection (a) shall be denied because a substantial part of the activities of such organization consists of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, but only if such organization normally—
(A) makes lobbying expenditures in excess of the lobbying ceiling amount for such organization for each taxable year, or
(B) makes grass roots expenditures in excess of the grass roots ceiling amount for such organization for each taxable year.
(1) General rule
In the case of an organization to which this subsection applies, exemption from taxation under subsection (a) shall be denied because a substantial part of the activities of such organization consists of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, but only if such organization normally—
(A) makes lobbying expenditures in excess of the lobbying ceiling amount for such organization for each taxable year, or
(B) makes grass roots expenditures in excess of the grass roots ceiling amount for such organization for each taxable year.
EDIT: And yes it's a lot more complicated than the quoted section might imply.
Edited, May 22nd 2009 10:16am by Ahkuraj
Now a group out of Cali called Empowering Spirits has filed a complaint with the IRS that the Portland Diocese is abusing it's tax exempt status by engaging in bi-partisan lobbying.
Stupid. One, it will do nothing to stop the money getting to the organizers, Two, martyring the church isn't the best way to avoid large anti-gay turnout for an otherwise barely participated in election cycle.
Disclaimer:
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
Recent Visitors: 260
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (260)
- Forums
- Cross Site
- The Asylum
- God said..., the IRS said...
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC