EO Tax Journal

Lots of good discussion of current issues affecting tax-exempt hospitals today.

D.C. Bar Panel on Schedule H Issues and Hints of Future Guidance

What follows are the April 6 remarks of speakers at a luncheon program of the Exempt Organizations Committee of the District of Columbia Bar. The moderator is Roger Colinvaux, Associate Professor, Catholic University School of Law, who introduced the panelists. Continue…

1 – Old Business

4 – IRS’ Next Case? Continue…

Nothing sinister about April 15 this year. I forget why, but we have until Monday to file our federal income tax return (of course, you can always prolong the misery by filing Form 4868).

ECFA Releases Names of Commission Members, Senator Grassley Salutes Effort

For earlier reports on the plans of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, see email updates 2011-4, 2011-10, and 2011-15.

MEMORANDUM

To: Reporters and Editors
Fr: Jill Gerber, Press Secretary to Senator Grassley (R-Iowa)
Re: Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability names special commission members
Da: Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has announced the names of the members of the special commission it formed in response to a request from Sen. Chuck Grassley following a Grassley staff report issued in January that focused on the financial practices of high-profile religious organizations. The ECFA formed its Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations to spearhead an independent national effort to review and provide input on major accountability and policy issues affecting such organizations.

Grassley is a senior member and former chairman and ranking member of the Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over tax policy, including tax-exempt policies covering many religious organizations. He made the following comment on the ECFA’s newly announced commission.

“The ECFA is embracing my request for feedback by working to produce an in-depth, scholarly analysis that will inform the public and Congress about ways to improve accountability from religious organizations. As this effort develops, I hope people representing as many points of view as possible will participate and offer their perspective. I appreciate the time and energy that the ECFA and all of the participants are volunteering for this cause. Governance reforms are most effective when they originate from within the sector involved than from congressional fiat. That’s something I saw the last time I worked with a coalition on a comprehensive effort like this, through the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector convened by the Independent Sector. That led to some legislation but more self-reform through increased transparency and improved governance. Also, all three outside panels being convened by the ECFA are important because some of the issues raised by my staff report apply to all charities, not just religious organizations.”
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Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Press Release

Members Named to Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations Continue…

1 – If You Can’t Beat ‘em, Join ‘em

4 – Attorneys Comment on  “Government Entity Exception” in Proposed SO Regs Continue…

1 – Old Business

As I expected, few huzzahs for my suggested legislative solutions to address the concerns of House Republicans about AARP. Most of my proposals have been made before by others (maybe not banning sponsoring NASCAR drivers). My intended point was that while House Republicans may not like what AARP is doing, AARP does not appear to be doing anything that is prohibited by current law. Rather than asking the IRS to investigate (see letter reprinted yesterday), the reality is that House Republicans should propose legislation if they are not happy with how AARP and similarly-situated organizations operate. Continue…