IRS Issues Revenue Ruling For Political Organizations.

Rev. Rul. 2000-49

ISSUES

On July 1, 2000, Pub. L. 106-230 was enacted, amending section 527 of the Code. The new law imposes three reporting and disclosure requirements on political organizations described in section 527: (1) an initial notice of status, (2) periodic reports of contributions and expenditures, and (3) annual returns. This revenue ruling provides questions and answers relating to the reporting and disclosure requirements for political organizations described in section 527.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

I. NOTICE OF STATUS

1. Q. What is the notice of status requirement for an organization described in section 527?

A. Under section 527(i)(1)(A), a political organization is required to give notice both electronically and in writing to the Service that it is a political organization described in section 527.

2. Q. What is the required notice form?

A. The required notice form is Form 8871, Political Organization Notice of Section 527 Status.

3. Q. Are all political organizations required to file the Form 8871 notice?

A. No. Under section 527(i)(5) and section 527(i)(6), three types of organizations are not required to file the Form 8871 notice:

     (a) Persons required to report under the Federal Election

4. Q. Is a political organization required to file Form 8871 if it does not know whether it will have annual gross receipts of $25,000 or more for any taxable year?

A. A newly established political organization is not required to file Form 8871 if it reasonably anticipates that its annual gross receipts will be less than $25,000 for its first six taxable years. However, if an organization, in fact, does have annual gross receipts of $25,000 or more for any taxable year, it is required to file Form 8871 within 30 days of receiving $25,000.

5. Q. Is the separate segregated fund established under section 527(f)(3) by a section 501(c) organization required to file Form 8871?

A. A section 501(c) organization that is not prohibited from participating in political campaign activity has the option of conducting the activity itself or setting up a separate segregated fund. If the section 501(c) organization conducts the activity itself, it is subject to tax under section 527(f)(1) on the lesser of its investment income or the amount of its political expenditures, but it is not required to file Form 8871 pursuant to section 527(i)(5)(A). If the section 501(c) organization establishes a separate segregated fund, the fund is treated as a separate political organization under section 527(f)(3) and does not qualify for the exception under section 527(i)(5)(A). Therefore, unless it meets one of the other exceptions, the separate segregated fund is required to file Form 8871.

6. Q. Is an organization that finances both federal and non-federal election activity required to file the Form 8871 notice?

A. As a general rule, any political organization (whether or not separately incorporated) that is organized and operated primarily for an exempt function under section 527(e)(2) (see Q&A-17) must file Form 8871 unless it meets one of the exceptions discussed above (see Q&A-3), one of which is being required to report under FECA as a political committee. An organization that finances election activity (within the meaning of FECA) for both federal and non-federal elections may establish a political committee to receive contributions and make expenditures for both federal and non-federal election activity. In that case, the organization must register as a political committee and comply with the FECA contribution limitations and reporting requirements. 11 C.F.R. 102.5(a)(1)(ii). Such an organization is, therefore, not required to file Form 8871.

If, however, the organization sets up separate accounts to conduct its federal election activity and its non-federal election activity, the federal account is treated as a separate political committee that is required to register and report under FECA. 11 C.F.R. 102.5(a)(1)(i). The treatment of the federal account as a separate committee is consistent with the organizational requirements for political organizations under section 527, as discussed below in Q&A-12. Accordingly, the separate federal account is not required to file Form 8871. However, a separate non-federal account is not required to register and report under FECA as a political committee. Therefore, a separate non-federal account that is described in section 527(e)(1) is required to file Form 8871.

7. Q. Are political organizations that are required to report to state or local election agencies excepted from the notice requirement?

A. Section 527(i) does not except political organizations that file reports with state or local election agencies from the notice of status requirement. Therefore, unless the political organization meets one of the exceptions discussed above in Q&A-3, it must file Form 8871 with the Service.

8. Q. When must the organization file Form 8871?

A. Form 8871 must be filed within 24 hours after the date on which the organization was established. See Notice 2000-36, 2000-33 I.R.B. 173 for information about filing requirements for organizations in existence before July 30, 2000.

9. Q. What are the methods of filing Form 8871?

A. Section 527(i)(1)(A) requires that the organization file Form 8871 both electronically and in writing. Therefore, the methods for filing Form 8871 are as follows:

     (a) Electronically via the Internal Revenue Service Internet Web

A. Before filing Form 8871, the political organization must have its own employer identification number (EIN) even if it has no employees. To obtain an EIN, an organization must file Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, with the Service (see Q&A-52).

11. Q. What information must be provided in the Form 8871 notice?

A. Under section 527(i)(3), an organization must provide in its Form 8871 notice its name and address (including any business address, if different) and electronic mailing address; its purpose; the names and addresses of its officers, highly compensated employees, contact person, custodian of records, and members of its Board of Directors; and the name and address of, and relationship to, any related entities (within the meaning of section 168(h)(4)).

12. Q. Does section 527(i) change the organizational requirements for section 527 organizations?

A. No. Section 527 does not require an organization to have formal organizational documents, such as articles of incorporation. Under section 1.527-2(a)(2) of the Income Tax Regulations, a political organization meets the organizational test if it is organized for the primary purpose of carrying on exempt function activities as defined in section 527. The regulation specifically states that the organization need not be formally chartered or established as a corporation, trust, or association. For example, a separate bank account can qualify as a political organization. See Rev. Rul. 79-11, 1979-1 C.B. 207.

The requirement that a section 527 organization include the names and addresses of its officers, highly compensated employees, and members of its Board of Directors does not change the organizational test for section 527. Section 527(i) does not require political organizations to be organized with Boards of Directors, officers and highly compensated employees. It merely requires the organization to provide their names and addresses if it is so organized.

13. Q. What is a "related entity" for this purpose?

A. An entity is a "related entity" within the meaning of section 168(h)(4), which provides that an organization is related to another entity as follows:

     (a) The two entities have (i) significant common purposes and

A. Highly compensated employees for this purpose are the five employees (other than officers and directors) who are reasonably expected to have the highest annual compensation over $50,000. Compensation includes both cash and noncash amounts, whether paid currently or deferred, for the 12-month period that began with the date the organization was formed (if the organization was formed after June 30, 2000). If the organization was already in existence on June 30, 2000, it must use the accounting period that includes July 1, 2000.

15. Q. What if an organization described in section 527(e)(1) does not file the Form 8871 notice?

A. An organization described in section 527(e)(1) must file Form 8871 unless it is an organization described in section 527(i)(5) or section 527(i)(6) (see Q&A-3). If the organization fails to file Form 8871 on a timely basis, section 527(i)(4) provides that until the organization satisfies the notice requirement, the taxable income of the organization includes its exempt function income (including contributions received, membership dues, and political fundraising receipts), minus any deductions directly connected with the production of that income. For purposes of computing its taxable income, the organization may not deduct its exempt function expenditures because section 162(e) denies a deduction for political campaign expenditures.

Under section 527(b), the tax is computed by multiplying the organization's taxable income (including its net investment income) by the highest corporate tax rate, currently 35 percent. The organization must file a Form 1120-POL to report the income and pay the tax.

16. Q. When is an organization described in section 527(e)(1)?

A. An organization is described in section 527(e)(1) if it meets both the organizational and operational tests, that is, it must be organized and operated primarily for the purpose of accepting contributions or making expenditures for an exempt function under section 527(e)(2). See section 1.527-2(a).

17. Q. What is an "exempt function" under section 527(e)(2)?

A. "Exempt function" means, under section 527(e)(2), influencing or attempting to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, state, or local public office or office in a political organization, or the election of Presidential or Vice-Presidential electors, whether or not such individual or electors are selected, nominated, elected, or appointed.

18. Q. Are transfers to political organizations that fail to file Form 8871 subject to the gift tax?

A. Section 2501(a)(5) provides that the gift tax does not apply to transfers of money or other property to political organizations within the meaning of section 527(e)(1). Therefore, transfers to an organization described in section 527(e)(1) (see Q&A-16) are not subject to the gift tax, regardless of whether the organization has filed Form 8871.

19. Q. Is the Form 8871 notice publicly available?

A. Yes. Under section 6104(a), Form 8871 (including any supporting papers), and any letter or other document the Service issues with regard to Form 8871, will be open to public inspection. Copies of Form 8871 that have been filed are currently available at the IRS Web Site at www.irs.gov/polorgs and are considered widely available under section 301.6104(d)-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations, as long as the organization provides the IRS Web Site address to the person making the request. In addition, the organization is required to make a copy of these materials available for public inspection during regular business hours at the organization's principal office (and at each of its regional or district offices having at least three paid employees) in the same manner as applications for exemption of section 501(c) organizations are made available. Section 6104(d).

20. Q. What is the penalty on the organization for failure to comply with the public inspection requirement?

A. Under section 6652(c)(1)(D), a penalty of $20 per day may be imposed on any person with a duty to comply with the public inspection requirement for each day a failure to comply continues.

II. PERIODIC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

21. Q. What are the periodic reporting requirements imposed upon political organizations?

A. Under section 527(j), a political organization is required to periodically report certain contributions it receives and expenditures it makes.

22. Q. What is the required periodic reporting form?

A. The required periodic reporting form is Form 8872, Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures.

23. Q. When are political organizations required to file periodic reports on Form 8872?

A. Under section 527(j)(2), political organizations that accept contributions or make expenditures for an exempt function under section 527 (see Q&A-17) during a calendar year are required to file periodic reports on Form 8872, beginning with the first month or quarter in which they accept contributions or make expenditures. In addition, organizations that make contributions or expenditures with respect to an election for federal office (as defined in section 527(j)(6)) may be required to file pre-election reports for that election.

24. Q. Are all political organizations required to file periodic reports on Form 8872?

A. No, section 527(j)(5) provides that some organizations are not subject to this requirement. The organizations excepted from the filing requirements are as follows:

     (a) Organizations excepted from the requirement to file a Form

25. Q. Must a state or local candidate or officeholder organize a formal committee to be excepted from the Form 8872 filing requirements?

A. No. As discussed in Q&A-12, section 527 does not require organizations to have formal organizational documents. Therefore, a candidate or officeholder does not need to organize a formal committee to qualify for the exception under section 527(j)(5) for committees of state or local candidates.

26. Q. Are political organizations that engage in exempt function activities (as defined in section 527(e)(2)) solely with respect to elections for state or local offices excepted from the Form 8872 filing requirements?

A. No. Although the timing of the reports is based upon federal elections (see Q&A-34), the requirement to file the reports is based on accepting contributions or making expenditures for an exempt function under section 527(e)(2) (see Q&A-17). Therefore, unless a political organization meets one of the exceptions discussed above in Q&A-24, it must file Form 8872 with the Service.

27. Q. Is an organization that reasonably anticipated it would not have annual gross receipts of $25,000 or more required to file Form 8872 if it, in fact, receives $25,000 or more in any taxable year?

A. An organization that receives $25,000 in any taxable year no longer qualifies for the exception in section 527(j)(5)(C) and, therefore, must begin filing Form 8872 unless it meets one of the other exceptions discussed in Q&A-24. The organization must file, within 30 days of receiving $25,000, any Form 8872 that would otherwise have been due during the calendar year prior to that date.

28. Q. How often must the Form 8872 be filed?

A. A political organization subject to the periodic reporting requirement may choose to file Form 8872 on a monthly basis or on a quarterly/semi-annual basis, but it must file on the same basis for the entire calendar year.

29. Q. What is an election year and non-election year for purposes of determining the due dates for filing Form 8872?

A. An election year is any year in which a regularly scheduled general election for federal office is held, i.e., any even-numbered year. A non-election year is therefore any odd-numbered year.

30. Q. If an organization chooses to file on a monthly basis, when is Form 8872 due in a non-election year?

A. Pursuant to section 527(j)(2)(B), a political organization that chooses to file monthly must file Form 8872 reports not later than the 20th day after the end of the month, which must be complete as of the last day of the month. December activity is included in the year-end report which is due not later than January 31 of the following year.

31. Q. If an organization chooses to file on a monthly basis, when is Form 8872 due during an election year?

A. Pursuant to section 527(j)(2)(B), in any election year (i.e., even-numbered years), monthly reports are due not later than the 20th day after the end of the month (see Q&A -- 30), except the organization shall not file the reports regularly due in November and December (i.e., the monthly reports for activity in October and November). Instead, the organization must file a Form 8872 report not later than 12 days before the general election (or 15 days before the general election if posted by registered or certified mail) that contains information through the 20th day before the general election. The organization must also file a report no more than 30 days after the general election which shall contain information through the 20th day after the election. The December activity is included in the year-end report due not later than January 31 of the following year.

32. Q. If an organization chooses not to file on a monthly basis, when is Form 8872 due in a non-election year?

A. Pursuant to section 527(j)(2)(A), a political organization that chooses not to file monthly must file semi-annual reports in non-election years (i.e., odd-numbered years). These reports are due not later than July 31 for the first half of the year and, for the second half of the year, not later than January 31 of the following year.

33. Q. If an organization chooses not to file on a monthly basis, when is Form 8872 due during an election year?

A. Pursuant to section 527(j)(2)(A), in an election year (even- numbered years), an organization that chooses not to file monthly reports must file quarterly reports not later than the 15th day after the last day of the quarter, except that the return for the final quarter shall be due not later than January 31 of the following year. The organization must also file a post-general election report not later than 30 days after the general election that contains information through the 20th day after the election. In addition, the organization must file a pre-election report for any election for federal office with respect to which the organization makes a contribution or expenditure. These reports shall be filed not later than 12 days before the election (15 days before if posted by registered or certified mail) and must contain information through the 20th day before the election.

34. Q. What is an election for purposes of the reporting deadlines under section 527(j)?

A. For purposes of determining what is an election year and what elections trigger the pre-election and post-general election reports, section 527(j)(6) provides that an "election" is a general, special, primary, or runoff election for a federal office; a convention or caucus of a political party with authority to nominate a candidate for federal office; a primary election to select delegates to a national nominating convention of a political party; or a primary election to express a preference for the nomination of individuals for election to the office of President. Thus, an election for purpose of these reporting deadlines does not include a purely state or local election. When an election involves both candidates for federal office and candidates for state or local offices, it is an election for purposes of the reporting deadlines, but only those organizations that make contributions or expenditures with respect to the candidates for federal office are required to file the pre- election reports for those elections under section 527(j)(2)(A)(i)(II). However, all reports filed under section 527(j) must contain information about the contributions and expenditures within the reporting period, regardless of whether they were accepted or made with respect to candidates for federal, state or local office.

35. Q. What is a general election?

A. A general election is either one of the following:

     (a) an election for federal office held in even numbered years

A. The definition of "election" under section 527(j)(6) is virtually identical to the definition of "election" under FECA (2 U.S.C. section 431(1)). Organizations may rely on FEC interpretations of the FECA definition in the absence of further guidance from the Service. The FEC publishes information concerning the filing requirements under FECA and the dates for filing those reports, including information on the dates of elections, on its Web Site at http://www.fec.gov/pages/report.htm.

37. Q. What must a Form 8872 report contain?

A. The report must include the name, address, and (if an individual) the occupation and employer, of any person to whom expenditures are made that aggregate $500 or more in a calendar year and the amount of such expenditure. The report must also include the name, address, and (if an individual) the occupation and employer, of any person that contributes in the aggregate $200 or more in a calendar year and the amount of such contribution. However, an organization is not required to report independent expenditures, as defined in section 301 of FECA. Only expenditures made or contributions received after July 1, 2000, that are not made or received pursuant to binding contracts entered into before July 2, 2000, must be reported.

38. Q. What is an independent expenditure under section 301 of FECA?

A. An independent expenditure is an expenditure by a person expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for federal office which is made without cooperation or consultation with any candidate for federal office, or any authorized committee or agent of such candidate, and which is not made in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate for federal office, or authorized committee or agent of such candidate. See 2 U.S.C. section 431(17).

39. Q. Where is the Form 8872 filed?

A. The report is filed by sending a signed copy of Form 8872 to the Internal Revenue Service Center, Ogden, UT 84201. The form must be signed by an official authorized by the organization to sign the report.

40. Q. What if a political organization that has filed Form 8871 does not file the required Form 8872?

A. Under section 527(j)(1), a political organization that does not file the required Form 8872 or which fails to include the information required on the Form 8872 is subject to a penalty equal to the amount of contributions and expenditures that are not disclosed multiplied by the highest corporate tax rate, currently 35 percent.

41. Q. Is the Form 8872 filed by political organizations publicly available?

A. Yes. Under section 6104(b) and section 6104(d)(6), Form 8872 will be made available for public inspection by the Service. Copies of Form 8872 that have been filed are currently available at the IRS Web Site at www.irs.gov/polorgs and are considered widely available under section 301.6104(d)-3, as long as the organization provides the IRS Web Site address to the person making the request. In addition, under section 6104(d)(1)(A), the organization is required to make a copy of these reports available for public inspection during regular business hours at the organization's principal office (and at each of its regional or district offices having at least three paid employees) in the same manner as applications for exemption of section 501(c) organizations are made available. Pursuant to section 6104(b) and section 6104(d)(3)(A), contributor information must be disclosed to the public.

42. Q. What if the political organization does not make its Form 8872 publicly available?

A. Under section 6652(c)(1)(C), a penalty of $20 per day may be imposed on any person with a duty to comply with the public inspection requirement for each day a failure to comply continues. The maximum penalty that may be incurred for any failure to disclose any one report is $10,000.

III. ANNUAL RETURN REQUIREMENTS

43. Q. Which political organizations are required to file annual income tax returns?

A. A political organization that has taxable income in excess of the $100 specific deduction allowed under section 527 is required to file an annual income tax return on Form 1120-POL, U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Political Organizations. In addition, for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2000, a political organization that has $25,000 or more in gross receipts for the taxable year is also required to file Form 1120-POL, without regard to whether it has taxable income. Section 6012(a)(6).

44. Q. When is the Form 1120-POL due?

A. The Form 1120-POL is due on or before the 15th day of the third month after the close of the organization's taxable year. Section 6072(b). Thus, for a calendar-year taxpayer, Form 1120-POL is due on March 15 of the following year.

45. Q. Which political organizations are required to file an annual information return?

A. A political organization that is required under section 6012(a)(6) to file an income tax return is also required to file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2000. Section 6033(g). Organizations with gross receipts less than $100,000 and assets less than $250,000 may file Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Organizations with gross receipts of less than $25,000 are not required to file Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.

46. Q. When is the Form 990 due?

A. The Form 990 (or Form 990-EZ) is due on or before the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of the organization's taxable year. Thus, for a calendar-year taxpayer, Form 990 is due on May 15 of the following year.

47. Q. What if the political organization fails to file Form 1120-POL or Form 990?

A. A political organization that fails to file a required Form 1120-POL or Form 900 or fails to include required information on those returns is subject to a penalty of $20 per day for every day such failure continues. The maximum penalty imposed regarding any one return is the lesser of $10,000 or 5 percent of the gross receipts of the organization for the year. In the case of an organization having gross receipts exceeding $1,000,000 for any year, the penalty is increased to $100 per day with a maximum penalty of $50,000. Section 6652(c)(1)(A).

48. Q. Are the Forms 1120-POL and Forms 990 filed by political organizations publicly available?

A. Yes, the Forms 1120-POL and the Forms 990 filed for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2000 will be made available for public inspection by the Service. Section 6104(b). In addition, each political organization must make a copy of its returns available for public inspection during regular business hours at its principal office (and any regional or district offices having at least three paid employees) in the same manner as annual information returns of section 501(c) organizations are made available. It must also provide a copy of the returns to any person requesting a copy in person or in writing without charge other than a reasonable charge for reproduction and postage in the same manner that section 501(c) organizations provide copies of their annual returns. Section 6104(d)(1). If an organization's returns are widely available under section 301.6104(d)-3 (such as on the Internet), the organization need not respond to requests for copies so long as it provides the web site address where the returns are available to the person making the request. Returns only need to be made available for three years after filing. Section 6104(d)(2). Contributor information must be disclosed to the public. Section 6104(d)(3)(A).

49. Q. What if the political organization does not make its Forms 1120-POL and Forms 990 publicly available?

A. A penalty of $20 per day may be imposed on any person with a duty to comply with the public inspection requirement for each day a failure to comply continues. The maximum penalty that may be incurred for any failure to disclose any one return is $10,000. Section 6652(c)(1)(C).

IV. GENERAL

50. Q. What if the filing date for any of these forms falls on Saturday, Sunday or a holiday?

A. If any due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the organization may file the report on the next business day.

51. Q. Where can organizations get copies of the various forms?

A. The various forms (Form SS-4, Form 8871, Form 8872, Form 1120-POL, and Form 990) and their instructions are available by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or via the Internet at the IRS Web Site at www.irs.gov in the "Forms and Publications" section.

52. Q. What if an organization has questions regarding the notice and reporting requirements or has any problem obtaining an EIN?

A. For more information or if an organization has any problem obtaining an EIN, organizations may call the TE/GE Customer Service Center at 1-877-829-5500.

DRAFTING INFORMATION

The principal author of this announcement is Judith E. Kindell of Exempt Organizations. For further information regarding this announcement contact Judith E. Kindell on (202) 622-6494 (not a toll- free call).