IRS problem started with vague tax exemption rules

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 5/16/2013 | Matea Gold, Washington Bureau, LA Times

[Salgak]

For former IRS staff and tax experts, the case confirms what they view as one of the agency's long-standing weaknesses: its inability to cope with the growing number of tax-exempt advocacy groups that appear to stretch the law to engage in politics.

With the IRS now under fire for its practices, campaign finance lawyers anticipate that the agency will shy away even more from regulating such organizations.

At the heart of the issue is the murky role occupied by nonprofit "social welfare" organizations, set up under Section 501(c)4 of the tax code, which are allowed under IRS regulations to engage in a certain amount of campaign activity, as long as politics is not their "primary" purpose. The groups pay no tax on the money they bring in. They can accept unlimited donations and, unlike political committees, can keep their contributors secret.

[M Kehoe]

The LA Times is trying to be relevant. They have been trying now for the last few years. They have been bleeding money, just like the NYT. Maybe the ash heap of history is where they will rest.

5.56mm

[unixfox]

Notwithstanding the IRS and the income tax punishes those who are successful and rewards those who do not work.

Notwithstanding the IRS and the income tax is a weapon that is used by politicians to garner support by special interest groups and to control the populace.

[Iron Munro]

Solve the problem - just eliminate all tax exemptions for all groups involved with political advocacy, voter registration, anything at all to do with politics and elections.

[Irenic]

Headlines today looks like the media has started the shutdown. Obama has done everything and evil Republicans won’t let it go and just want to do this for elections.

I am dma* sick of this. SICK of it.

[old and tired]

just eliminate all tax exemptions for all groups involved with political advocacy, voter registration, anything at all to do with politics and elections.

Personally, I'd like to see all tax exemptions go away. I think there's too much abuse. I have considered the implications for the Church, and I still think tax exemption needs to go. No doubt, there would be some suffering, but it's just buildings - Christianity will go on without them.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Solve the problem - just eliminate all tax exemptions for all groups involved with political advocacy, voter registration, anything at all to do with politics and elections. stop taxing income.

[i_robot73]

I believe that is the best break-down I have EVER seen, congrats.

I think you left one more bullet out of the list: Equal protection of the Law (AKA graduated income tax)

[IMR 4350]

Do you recall several months ago a dem. member of congress, may have been Maxine Waters or SJ Lee, that made the comment about Obama putting together info on people like no one had ever done before and he was going to be passing this info on to the next dem. running for president?

I think we have Hillary’s fingers in this too, not just Obamas.

[Western Phil]

If you can stomach it, you might want to catch Elanor Cliff’s take on this for this weekend. I predict she will go with: A minor problem out in the boondocks with the Cincinnati office, well taken care of by Obama as soon as he heard about it on the news. Blown way out of proportion by the evil, racist Republicans.

[kevao]

Patently false. Why didn’t the “vague rules” result in *any* Lib or Progressive group getting caught up in this? Not one?

[GeronL]

I refuse to go over the cliff