| Platapus |
09-25-13 03:50 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by privateer
(Post 2119148)
Can you give links that to Laws that say that religous orginizations can't contribute to political causes?
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Your use of the word "law", "contribute" and "political causes" complicates the question.
Under the IRS regulations churches full under code 501c3 which has limitations in order to keep their tax exempt status.
From the IRS
Quote:
it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
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Finally, you used the term "political causes" which can mean many different things. Most of which are not prohibited by the IRS rules concerning 501c3 organizations, but not all. When it comes to participating in a campaign, the rules are a lot more clear
Quote:
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
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Now, if the 501c organization is a corporation (not all of them are) then there are separate laws governing political contributions. Contrary to the hysteria about Citizens United, corporations are, were, and probably will be prohibited from making contributions directly to a candidate's campaign. All Citizen's United did was re-affirm an already existing law that allows corporations to fund non candidate campaign functions. A subtle but important legal difference.
It is a complicated and complex topic. This is how tax attorneys stay in business. |
