Ban on Political Activities: An Election-Year Warning for Charities: CPAs Can Help Organizations Avoid Risks That Endanger Tax-Exempt Status

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As the 2012 elections draw near, the IRS is once again increasing its oversight of the ban on political campaign activities by Sec. 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. An IRS work plan (Exempt Organizations 2011 Annual Report & 2012 Work Plan, available at tinyurl.com/bos7pb4) states that, in enforcing the ban this year, the IRS will use new information about organizations' activities from Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, which was expanded in 2008.

While many charities speak out on issues as an integral part of carrying out their charitable purpose, these organizations are prohibited from engaging in political campaign activities. The consequences of violations can be severe, including fines and possible revocation of the organization's tax-exempt status. Understanding and communicating to organization managers the rules discussed in this article will help CPAs ensure that clients do not jeopardize their tax-exempt status.

A Sec. 501(c)(3) organization, including a church, is not permitted to be an "action" organization, as defined in any of three ways. First, an organization is an action organization if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation, including by advocating its adoption or rejection, or by contacting federal, state, or local legislators to propose, support, or oppose legislation, or urging the public to do so (Regs. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1 (c)(3)(ii)). The second definition likewise involves proposed legislation: A Sec. 501(c)(3) organization is an action organization if its main or primary objective may be attained only by the passage or defeat of proposed legislation and it advocates or campaigns for the attainment of the objective, as distinguished from engaging in nonpartisan analysis, study, or research and making those results available to the public (Regs. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(3)(iv)) (see also "Issue Advocacy vs. Political Intervention," below).

Third--and the focus of this article--an organization is an action organization if it participates or intervenes, directly or indirectly, in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Pegs. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(3)(iii) defines "candidate for public office" as an individual who offers himself or herself, or is proposed by others, as a contestant for an elective public office, whether the office is national, state, or local.

It is crucial for CPAs to advise their exempt-organization clients about IRS guidance on what is and is not allowed in relation to political campaigns.

A good place to start is Rev. Rul. 2007-41, in which the IRS provides examples of acceptable and unacceptable campaign involvement. The IRS website (nonprofits and charities section) has additional resources, including answers to frequently asked questions on this topic (see the "Resources" box near the end of this article for links). The following sections of this article provide an overview of what constitutes inappropriate political activity and suggest what organizations can do to avoid engaging in political …