Charitable giving, nonprofit tax rules, and what donors and organizations need to know to give (and receive) the right way.
No, not that man upstairs. I mean Seth P. Waxman, a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. Waxman’s firm has agreed to represent the United Church of Christ on a pro bono basis during the IRS investigation of the church’s tax-exempt status. The entire denomination’s status is at risk due to the IRS…
The IRS is serious about the rules which prohibit non-profit organizations, including churches, from supporting candidates or political parties. Just a few week after the IRS mailed a lengthy letter to First Baptist Church of Buena Park pastor Wiley S. Drake advising that he was being investigated for his 2007 support of presidential hopeful Mike…
They made headlines in the presidential organization when a group of organized Republicans funded “Swift Boats for Truth” to launch a missive against Senator Kerry. 527 organizations are named after 26 U.S.C. § 527 – basically section 527 of the Tax Code (the Tax Code is Title 26). Generally, tax exempt organizations are not allowed…
Elections are supposed to be about candidates. And candidates want endorsements. But not every organization is allowed to make a public endorsement of a political candidate. Specifically, organizations that are tax-exempt – including churches, schools and purely public charities – may not endorse candidates, raise funds for candidates or distribute statements for or against candidates….
A US District Court has granted the federal government’s motion for summary judgment that Bluetooth Association is not a tax exempt (section 501(c)(6)) business league (cite: Bluetooth SIG, Inc. v. United States, No. C05-1778). Bluetooth Association was founded in 1998 and was actually incorporated in 2000 as a Delaware non-profit corporation. In early 2002, Bluetooth…
Taxpayer asks: Hello, My husband’s business gets letters from people asking for cash donations/sponsorships. Specifically, when students write to us asking for sponsorship for a People to People Ambassador program for their son/daughter to attend, or Cheer camp sponsorship for their cheerleading daughter to attend, or asking for a sponsorship for their child’s go-kart racing…
Taxpayer asks: So I have been seeing Turbo Tax ads on TV that say it will give you a value for any clothing items that you donated, and that you can claim those as a tax deduction. Now what I am wondering is how would I prove that I donated these? Charities don’t give you…
Taking a page from Pennsylvania’s play book (resulting in JoePa’s salary making headlines), I wonder: Should universities (as tax exempt entities) be required to disclose the salaries of all of their employees? If not, should there be a dollar amount over which salaries should be disclosed? Would such disclosure influence your desire to donate?
Taxgirl asks: My husband and I will be traveling to Jamaica Dec 30 – January 6. The first 2 days are for pleasure and the last 3 we will be bringing donations and helping out at an Orphanage. My questions are, A. is any of this tax deductibleB. if so what do I need for…
Red Cross President and CEO – and former IRS Commissioner – Mark Everson has resigned after a request to do so by the Red Cross Board of Governors. His resignation was submitted following information that he was “engaged in a personal relationship with a subordinate employee.” The Board “concluded that the situation reflected poor judgment…