Download - Committee on Ways and Means
Committee on Ways and Means
Briefing on Proposed 501(c)(4) Regulations
How We Got Here: A Timeline • May 10, 2013: Lois Lerner admits the IRS
targeted Tea Party groups• May 14, 2013: TIGTA releases audit report,
“Inappropriate Criteria Were Used to Identify Tax-Exempt Applications for Review”
• June 24, 2013: Werfel issues 30 Day Report• November 29, 2013: Treasury issues proposed
regulations• Today: Congressional investigations ongoing
From the notice:“A recent IRS report relating to IRS review of applications for tax-exempt status states that…[t]he distinction between campaign intervention and social welfare activity…have created considerable confusion for both the public and the IRS. The…public and the IRS would benefit from clearer definitions of these concepts.” Quoting the Werfel 30 Day Report.
Rationale for Changing 501(c)(4) Rules
501(c)(4)s Under Current Law
501(c)(3) 501(c)(4) 501(c)(5) (Unions)
GOTV ✔ ✔ ✔Voter Registration ✔ ✔ ✔Candidate Forums ✔ ✔ ✔
Grassroots Lobbying LTD ✔ ✔
501(c)(4)s Under Proposed Rules
501(c)(3) 501(c)(4) 501(c)(5) (Unions)
GOTV ✔ ✗ ✔Voter Registration ✔ ✗ ✔Candidate Forums ✔ ✗ ✔
Grassroots Lobbying LTD LTD ✔
EXEMPT 501(c)(4) NOT EXEMPT
What You Can Do About It• Camp Bill: H.R. 3865
– Prohibits UST from finalizing rules for one year to allow for completion of the IRS targeting investigation
• Public Comment: