Why do conservative political groups need a tax exempt status?

Good question. This so-called scandal should be focused on the reasons that these political groups get tax-exempt status. We should be demanding revisions of the tax code to eliminate this nonsensical exemption.

All Political Groups generally don't pay taxes, for one thing, there is no profit! Everything is supposed to be paid out. I believe its the Federal Election Board that requires political groups to file financial papers to see that pay outs are proper. However, they have to disclose donors who give over a certain amount.

By filing with the IRS as a Section 501c(4) tax exemption organization, they still don't pay any taxes, but can keep their donor's list private. It is a very murky area.

Why do you ask this only of conservative groups? There are liberal groups too.

As for why, it's the same reason liberal groups do it, because it's allowed under the law.

Now there is a question about why it is even allowed and there are movements against it.

But the problem we are currently facing is not that issue. The problem is that conservative groups filing for tax exemption were scrutinized to a higher degree while liberal groups were not to the same degree.

Its not a matter of why it is allowed in this issue, the issue is why was there a difference.

To continue you question why do liberal political groups need tax exempt status like media matters? The IRS was granting exempt status in days for liberal groups. Remember the government is to be impartial however it was discriminating on political basis. The IRS was being racist and that is the problem here.

I guess you think only liberal groups wanting to advance the liberal agenda should be granted tax exempt status? The liberal groups have been getting their tax exempt status in less than 30 days, moron.

When liberal political groups stop needing a tax exempt status, we can talk.

PS: Tax exempt status helps give every day Americans a forum to let their opinions be heard.

Why are you singling them out as somehow needing to be exempt from the law?

501(c)(4) specifically permits POLITICAL ACTIVITY. That's what it's FOR. Otherwise, you'd organize under 501(c)(3).

The main difference is that a 501(c)(3) is ENTIRELY tax-exempt and cannot lobby, participate in campaigns etc. where a 501(c)(4) CAN do so as long as that activity stays below a certain percentage of its total monetary activity. The funds used politically ARE then taxable but the rest of its revenue remains tax-exempt.

Now, consider the current "scandal."

> You don't APPLY for tax-exempt status. You INFORM the IRS you're forming under a particular chapter (tax-exempt or otherwise) and apply for a tax ID number.

> The Director said the process was deliberately balked NOT during investigation or scrutiny of any sort but purely to BALK OBAMA'S POLITICAL OPPOSITION in their operations.

> No one alleged any wrong-doing nor ineligibility of these groups. The IRS SAID the IRS singled them out based entirely on having NAMES that suggested they might not be part of the Obama campaign. He was unable to cite EVEN ONE "leftist" group that was delayed in any way.

> Even WITH allegations of CRIME, you STILL GET YOUR TAX ID NUMBER but can expect an investigation is on its way. There is NO LAWFUL reason for the IRS to balk assigning the number.

> They CHOSE to break the law FOR OBAMA'S benefit. The IRS said so itself.

This is entirely a Democrat problem. No one needed a meeting or phone call to make this happen. Democrats in the bureaucracies ALWAYS do this sort of thing when the "top management" is one of their own - knowing they have almost no risk of consequences.

Sure, if you're a Republican in the IRS (and are therefore very lonely) you would probably imagine it would be safer for you to cheat for Republicans during a Republican administration than during a Democrat one but you also know that when Republicans are busted for crimes in government it's almost always OTHER REPUBLICANS busting them, investigating them, firing them, prosecuting them etc.

In contrast, when Democrats in government commit crimes, the entire Democrat caucus closes ranks around them and defends them. (They promoted a child-rapist BECAUSE he got busted as such.) THE WORST these offenders can reasonably expect is to be "fired" straight into a higher-paying activist/lobbyist job.

Bottom line: Either you APPROVE of corruption or it's retarded to vote for any Democrat at any level for any position. Every government worker knows that. Of course you have to be careful which Republicans you vote for, but NO Democrat is a sane "anti-corruption" pick.

I am a Muslim, what's the difference between conservative and liberal, they are the same because the laws that control both of them is the same. the only difference is that conservatives use religion or similar factors as a tool to have people votes. both of them are actually secular.

I got no problem with that as long as it extends to liberal political groups as well.

I agree !!!

Media Matters and Think Progress should be lose their tax exempt status