Is IRS Rethinking 501(c)(4) Political Activity Rules?

As reported in today's Daily Tax Report, IRS EO Director, Lois Lerner, stated in a July 17th letter to an organization raising concerns about the political campaign activities of 501(c)(4) organizations: 

The IRS is aware of the current public interest in this issue. These regulations have been in place since 1959. We will consider proposed changes in this area as we work with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel and the Treasury Department's Office of Tax Policy to identify tax issues that should be addressed through regulations and other published guidance.

As stated in the Daily Tax Report, "it is the first time the Service has publicly said it would consider new rules to govern the eligibility of Section 501(c)(4)s."  Obviously, any reconsideration of the permitted political activities, and the amount thereof, by 501(c)(4)s is big news in the nonprofit sector as well as the national political scene.  Stay tuned!

  

(See also:  Chronicle of Philanthropy)

 

NAM