January 09,2020

Press Contact:

Ashley Schapitl (202) 224-4515

Wyden Statement on IRS Failure to Oversee Politically-Active Nonprofits

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement in reaction to a report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration on 501c4 enforcement: 

“The watchdog report issued today shows that thousands of nonprofits eligible to engage in political activity have failed to properly disclose their existence, and the IRS isn’t doing enough to identify noncompliance or enforce penalties. The IRS is once again asleep at the wheel on enforcing rules for politically-active nonprofits, and this comes at a time when illegal dark and foreign money threatens to influence the 2020 election. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is working to finalize regulations that would eliminate donor reporting requirements for dark money organizations. It’s a one-two punch to election integrity. The IRS has cited a lack of resources for its failure to pursue organizations that break the rules, showing that Republican efforts to starve the IRS of resources has crippling effects on enforcement far beyond plummeting individual audit rates.”

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