Policy
Written by Casey Harper (Center Square)
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is looking into allegations that the IRS is not selectively enforcing tax-exempt rules against liberal nonprofits.
With the new allegations of political bias, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., launched an IRS investigation requesting interviews, communications records and training documents, among other things, as part of the investigation.
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Comer said the IRS “may be withholding enforcement” of federal rules that prevent liberal nonprofits from violating 501(c)3 rules that bar political lobbying. Send a letter to the IRS for raising this concern.
“Tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and implementing regulations requires that exempt entities ‘operate exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, public safety testing, literary, or educational purposes,’” the letter said. related purposes,” adding that many of these groups “appear to view their philanthropy as indistinguishable from their larger lobbying endeavors.”
Meanwhile, Comer points out that the IRS has a history of enforcing its rules against conservative groups.
Former IRS chief Lois Lerner targeted the Tea Party and other conservative groups during her time in the Obama administration. The House Oversight Committee's review of that scandal years ago found that the IRS “systematically scrutinized and delayed conservative groups applying for tax breaks.”
Comer's letter points to one group in particular, One for Fair Wages, a group advocating for a higher minimum wage.
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“According to a statement of action on their website, the organization is currently leading the 25 x 250 campaign, through which One Fair Wage is moving legislation and ballot measures in 25 states…” the letter read. “In civil actions brought by One Fair Wage, Inc., last year, the entity asserted on multiple occasions that the organization's significant activity, if not its primary purpose, included lobbying.
IRS Chief David Werfel is expected to testify before Congress on Thursday. The agency has been criticized in recent years for significant backlogs and leaks of taxpayer information as well as allegations of anti-conservative bias.
“We are concerned that the IRS may now be engaged in obscuring legitimate enforcement efforts regarding activist groups hiding behind their nonprofit statuses,” Comer’s letter said.
Published with permission from Center Square.
