Political Activities of Exempt Organizations

 

An organization exempt under section 501(c) of the Code that spends any amount for an exempt function (within the meaning of Code section 527) must file Form 1120–POLPDF for any year which it has political taxable in­come. These organizations must include in gross income the lesser of:

  1. The total amount of its exempt function expenditures, or
  2. The organization’s net investment income.

Exempt function. An exempt function means influencing or attempting to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, state, local pub­lic office or office in a political organization, or the election of the Presidential or Vice Presiden­tial electors, whether or not such individual or electors are selected, nominated, elected, or appointed. It also includes certain office ex­penses of a holder of public office or an office in a political organization.

Separate segregated fund. A section 501(c) organiza­tion can set up a separate segregated fund that will be treated as an independent political organ­ization. The earnings and expenditures made by the separate fund will not be attributed to the section 501(c) organization.

Caution: Section 501(c)(3) organizations are precluded from, and suffer loss of exemption for, engaging in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

Additional information:

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Political Campaign Intervention

 


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