Is Media Matters About To Lose With The IRS?
Jul 21, 2011 2 Comments ›› Pat Dollard
Want to file an IRS complaint against Media Matters? Click here. Read about IRS exemption requirements here.
It appears three applicants for 501(C)(4) tax status have been denied by the IRS. The names of the three have not been released – yet.
But the main reason cited by IRS for the denials, according to Election Law Blog, is that the organizations’ primary activites are “conducted primarily for the benefit of a political party and for a group of private individuals.”
Now I am from out of town and all, but if you can’t operate to benefit a political party and private individuals as a 501 (C)(4), how in the world can you operate doing the same thing but as a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt educational foundation?
I refer, of course, to Media Matters for America, which describes itself as having gone to “war” against Fox News because Fox is “the defacto leader of the Republican Party.” Doesn’t that self-description mean MMA’s activities are conducted for the benefit of the other political party, the Democrats?
And as for private individuals, well, there is that $1 million George Soros gave MMA to declare war on Fox.
Several weeks ago, Fox encouraged viewers to file protests of MMA’s tax exempt status. Could it be that the IRS is laying some groundwork for jerking MMA’s (C)(3) tax-exempt status?
I’m just sayin’!
Media Matters for America is organized as a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. Under IRS guidelines, they must abide by several rules to maintain this status. Specifically, 501(c)3 organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.
You can read an interesting article on this subject “Is Media Matters Breaking the law in its ‘war’ on Fox News?” The article strongly suggests that Media Matters is violating its exemption as an educational foundation by actively participating in partisan political activities. Specifically the IRS application for 501(C)(3) tax-exempt educational foundation status, Section VIII, Question I asks the applicant: “Do you support or oppose candidates in political campaigns in any way?” (Emphasis added).
The Internal Revenue Service has a complaint form 13909 Tax-Exempt Organization Complaint (Referral) Form that is one page in length. The form comes with easy to follow instructions and then can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the IRS office.
I have taken the liberty to complete the initial heading of the form to include Media Matters for America’s mailing address and tax ID number in order to assist any submitter with completing the complaint form. You may download this form HERE.
Read about IRS exemption requirements here.
