Minnesota Ruling Stirs Debate Over Tax-Exemptions for Nonprofits :: PNNOnline ::

Minnesota Ruling Stirs Debate Over Tax-Exemptions for Nonprofits :: PNNOnline ::: "Concerned about growing budget shortfalls, authorities at the state and federal levels increasingly are questioning the tax-exempt status of nonprofits of all types and sizes, the New York Times reports.


A recent Minnesota Supreme Court decision that rescinded the property tax exemption of a small nonprofit childcare center, for example, has sent tremors through the nonprofit sector. In December, the Minnesota court ruled that the Under the Rainbow Child Care Center had to pay property taxes because, in essence, it gave nothing away. The center charges the same price per child regardless of whether parents are able to pay the full amount themselves or receive government support to cover the cost."

WebCPA - AICPA Suggests Changes to Tax-Exempt Form Instructions

WebCPA - AICPA Suggests Changes to Tax-Exempt Form Instructions: "AICPA Suggests Changes to Tax-Exempt Form Instructions

Washington, D.C. (May 30, 2008)
By WebCPA staff
|

The American Institute of CPAs has sent the Internal Revenue Service a spreadsheet-full of comments on the draft instructions for the revised Form 990 that will be used by tax-exempt organizations to file their returns next yea"

IRS Announces Public Meeting of ACT

IRS Announces Public Meeting of ACT: "May 30, 2008 (SmartPros) -- The Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT) will hold a public meeting next month to present to the Internal Revenue Service recommendations on ways to improve operations regarding employee retirement plans, tax-exempt organizations, tax-exempt bonds and federal, state, local and Indian tribal governments."

British disaster rescue charity says it was prevented from entering China quake zone - International Herald Tribune

British disaster rescue charity says it was prevented from entering China quake zone - International Herald Tribune: "A team of British rescue specialists were rebuffed in their attempt to go to China to help hunt for earthquake survivors, a spokeswoman for the group said Sunday."

Schools say bingo fundraisers back on track -- -- Courant.com

Schools say bingo fundraisers back on track -- -- Courant.com: "School groups and others who had stopped holding bingo fundraisers say the charity events are back on track now that a new state law resolves complicated state finance rules."

Tax credit for charity little used - The Connecticut Post Online

Tax credit for charity little used - The Connecticut Post Online: "FAIRFIELD — A state program that gives a tax credit to corporations for charitable donations has drawn little interest here. In fact, the only nonprofit to apply was a Montessori school in Wilton.

Under the Neighborhood Assistance Act, the town solicits proposals from municipal agencies and community nonprofit groups seeking funding for projects. Applicants are approved by the town, and then it's up to the different groups to seek the money they need from corporations."

Bill targets funding for nonprofits - Waltham, MA - The Daily News Tribune

Bill targets funding for nonprofits - Waltham, MA - The Daily News Tribune: "State senators and representatives urged people to support a bill that would allow nonprofits providing human services to renegotiate their annual state contracts."

Texas Association for the Advancement of Charitable Bingo formed

Texas Association for the Advancement of Charitable Bingo formed: "Texas Association for the Advancement of Charitable Bingo formed
19 May 2008

AUSTIN, Texas -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Littlefield Corporation (OTCBB: LTFD) announces that it has participated with others representing approximately thirty-five (35) licensed commercial lessors in the founding of the Texas Association for the Advancement of Charitable Bingo."

Fla. to Consider Key Church-State Question - washingtonpost.com

Fla. to Consider Key Church-State Question - washingtonpost.com: "The potential repeal of a century-old Florida law barring state funding for religiously affiliated organizations is to be put before the voters there this fall, at the end of a lobbying battle that has attracted the attention of President Bush and has engaged a coalition of liberal or secular educational groups."

Nonprofits rush to follow new IRS rules - Greenwich Time

Nonprofits rush to follow new IRS rules - Greenwich Time: "At least 16 Greenwich-based organizations have already complied with new regulations that require nonprofit groups that receive less than $25,000 to file annually with the IRS.

Among the filers are groups such as Calf Island Conservancy Inc., the Mountain Laurel Drive Owners Association Inc., Symphony on the Sound Inc. and others, according to a listing on the IRS Web site."

The Republican-American Lawmakers approve tax exemption for land trusts

The Republican-American Lawmakers approve tax exemption for land trusts: "HARTFORD — Only Gov. M. Jodi Rell stands between land trusts and potentially ruinous tax bills on their holdings.

Lawmakers tucked a tax exemption for land trusts into an environmental bill on the second-to-last day of the General Assembly session."

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > State -- Crackdown on electronic bingo begins

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > State -- Crackdown on electronic bingo begins: "The crackdown also could give a second chance to stalled legislation that would enable the Catholic Church and other nonprofits to operate interconnected games of standard bingo that could attract players with much larger prizes.

But for now, charities and nonprofits who face the loss of a primary revenue source were left pleading their case and pondering litigation."

Lessons in charity

Lessons in charity: "he guidelines come from the Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency. They list behaviours that could result in the revocation of charitable status, or in other penalties. The directorate has asked charities for their input 'on how these guidelines can be made easier to understand or more useful for charities' self-assessment of their fundraising.'"

San Luis Obispo County’s website | 05/08/2008 | Nonprofit Strategies: Legislation could affect nonprofit groups

San Luis Obispo County’s website | 05/08/2008 | Nonprofit Strategies: Legislation could affect nonprofit groups: "Nonprofit Strategies: Legislation could affect nonprofit groups
By Barry VanderKelen

There are a number of bills affecting nonprofit groups pending in the Legislature.

It is impossible to list all of them, so I have picked a few to highlight. I am grateful to the California Association of Nonprofits ( www.canonprofits.org) for its assistance."

Dixon leads parish reps in funding requests | thetowntalk.com | The Town Talk

Dixon leads parish reps in funding requests | thetowntalk.com | The Town Talk: "Of the approximately $1.83 million in earmarks that legislators from Rapides Parish have requested from the state, Dixon has his name on requests for more than $1.45 million to help 11 Alexandria-area nonprofit organizations. The nonprofits say the money would pay salaries and develop or carry on programs to help people and promote Central Louisiana.

But funding for the nonprofits, long a practice in Louisiana, could be in jeopardy following an edict from Gov. Bobby Jindal."

IRS to Offer Second Chance to Charities That Miss Disclosure Deadline - Philanthropy.com

From the Chronicle of Philanthropy

IRS to Offer Second Chance to Charities That Miss Disclosure Deadline - Philanthropy.com: "IRS to Offer Second Chance to Charities That Miss Disclosure Deadline

By Debra E. Blum

The Internal Revenue Service plans to introduce a new program this year for charities in jeopardy of losing their tax-exempt status for failure to file informational tax returns, called Forms 990.

Organizations will be allowed to file their missing forms without penalty, paying only a small fee based on their size."

Esperanza Fire inspires bill to free up donations after deaths | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Esperanza Fire inspires bill to free up donations after deaths | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California: "WASHINGTON - Frustrated by red tape that kept the families of five fallen firefighters from collecting charity money after Riverside County's Esperanza Fire, Inland Rep. Mary Bono Mack on Thursday introduced a bill to change a tax code provision that held up the donations."

Tulsa Today - Inhofe amendment protects volunteer pilots

Tulsa Today - Inhofe amendment protects volunteer pilots: "Today, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill to extend liability protection to volunteer pilots, volunteer pilot organizations (VPO), such as the Air Charity Network (ACN) and Angel Flight Oklahoma, and institutions that refer patients to volunteer pilot organizations, like the American Red Cross, as they conduct their life-saving missions."