Tax Exemption Legislation Could Be Good News for Political Donors

The Republican lead Congress recently passed some new legislation – without garnering much attention at all – that could be a big boon for major donors of political organizations and groups. The bill could protect big donors from having to pay gift taxes on their large donations to these political groups.

The bill, which is headed to the senate, could make way for even more donations in coming years from nonprofit groups that are registered as 501(c) groups, especially in 2016, the country’s next presidential year. Right now, it appears that these big donors rarely pay taxes on their large donations, but as it currently stands the law does not offer specific protection from being assessed with gift taxes. That fact makes some donors a little nervous that the IRS could come knocking.

However, the new piece of legislation that Congress just recently passed would make it clear that gift taxes would not apply to groups that are registered under the Tax Code sections 501(c)4, (c)5 or (c)6. That means most of the big donor organizations that are registered under these sections would be immune from paying gift taxes.

This would obviously be good news for the many ultra-wealthy individuals who are deeply involved in politics and political movements. By having assurances that their donations would never be subject to the gift tax, the amount of money they can donate could increase even more.

Posted in
THE LANGUAGE OF TRUSTS

The Language of Trusts

The Language of Trusts Many professions and disciplines have their own vocabulary. As an example, think about the terminology used in medicine and law. Often this vocabulary defines complex ideas, yet just as often “terms of art” can be defined with relative ease to a layperson. Such is the case with much of the language…

Tax Planning Considerations

Tax Planning Considerations First Year Tax Issues Upon Becoming a US Resident If a married taxpayer wishes to file a joint return, both spouses must be residents at the end of the year and elect to be treated as U.S. residents for the entire year. If the taxpayer is taxed as a U.S. resident for…

Approaches to Valuing Cost Sharing Buy-Ins

Approaches to Valuing Cost Sharing Buy-Ins Buy-Ins: Introduction Buy-in payments are often associated with a cost sharing arrangement (CSA) transaction. See § 1.482-7 for regulations regarding cost sharing arrangements between related parties. Participants should receive arm’s length compensation (a “buy-in”) for “pre-existing” intangibles that are contributed to a CSA. The buy-in should be treated as…

IRS Says Its Auditors May Routinely Ask for Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation Workpapers

IRS Says Its Auditors May Routinely Ask for Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation Workpapers Chief Counsel Notice 2007-015 A Chief Counsel Notice concludes that effective tax rate reconciliation workpapers are neither tax accrual workpapers nor audit workpapers. As such, they aren’t included in the documents the IRS will not routinely request during an audit. Effective tax…