The Albuquerque Tea Party has been granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service after applying eight years ago. The Albuquerque Journal reports Graham Bartlett, president of the local Tea Party, says he was informed about a month ago that the group's request was going through. Bartlett says the Albuquerque Tea Party requested tax-exempt status because it relies on donations and people tend to donate more when they know they can write it off on their taxes.