Latest COVID-19 Legislation Has Some Good Signs for Nonprofits, Fate Uncertain
On May 12, House Democrats unveiled their latest proposal to confront the public health, economic, and societal consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions—HEROES—Act, the roughly $3 trillion bill is perhaps a starting point for negotiations once all parties can be coaxed to the table. If negotiations do start with the HEROES Act, it would represent yet another positive step for nonprofit advocates who have lifted their voices nationwide.
Complete Repeal of Taxes on Transportation Benefits
In an end-of-year push, nonprofits nationwide scored a huge victory late Friday night (12/20/2019): the comprehensive budget bill passed by Congress, and signed into law by the President, includes a complete repeal of the federal unrelated business income tax (UBIT) on nonprofits that provide transportation benefits to their employees.
Transportation Benefits Tax: Interim Guidance and Congressional Action
The new 21% tax for nonprofits on employee transportation benefits resulting from 2017 comprehensive tax reform has been getting recent attention from the Treasury in the form of interim guidance and from the US House in the form of proposed legislation.
Unrelated Business Income Tax and Transportation Benefit Tax Regulations
The nonprofit sector is awaiting the guidance promised by the US Treasury Department and the IRS on computation of unrelated business taxable income for separate trades or businesses (UBIT) under new section 512(a)(6). Although some tentative guidance was released as a Request for Comments on August 21 (comments are due on December 3), the 21% new tax on transportation benefits is still in regulatory limbo.
Tax Reform Bills Have Nonprofit Sector on High Alert
After months of anticipation about the specifics of federal tax reform proposals, national nonprofit sector policy leaders expressed grave concerns about both House and Senate bills.
Non-Itemizer Charitable Deduction Bill Introduced in House
Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) recently introduced the Universal Charitable Giving Act (HR 3988), which would allow taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of the amount of the standard deduction.
Nonprofit leaders are concerned about some of the proposed changes to the standard deduction outlined in the Unified Framework for Fixing Out Broken Tax Code released by GOP leaders.
U.S. Senators Thune and Wyden Introduce CHARITY Act, S.2750
In advance of Foundation Week in Washington, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) today introduced the "Charities Helping Americans Regularly Throughout the Year Act" (CHARITY Act), S.2750.
IRS Seeks to Define Political Activity for Nonprofits
“The Internal Revenue Service could issue as early as next month new draft regulations governing political activity by tax-exempt organizations, according to a notice issued on Thursday. But it remains unlikely that the new rules would be in place before the 2016 election.”
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that nonprofits cheered a successful vote in the House on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 that would make several tax breaks for charitable giving permanent, but the legislation faces a steep climb to become law.
Read more on the Chronicle of Philanthropy
NH Reps Show Support for Nonprofit Sector, But Tax Extenders Bill Falls Short
Despite affirmative votes from NH’s Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster, the Supporting America’s Charities Act fell short of the ⅔ majority needed for passage in the House. The Senate is expected to pass the House’s short-term tax-extenders bill this week before adjourning.
In the few remaining days of the lame duck Congress, there may be an opportunity to pass legislation - HR 5806, the Supporting America's Charities Act - to make three charitable tax incentives permanent.
The NH Center for Nonprofits and NH Charitable Foundation will be sending a letter to both Senator Ayotte and Senator Shaheen regarding the America Gives More Act, and we need your support.
Bill Proposes Cutting Red Tape for Car Donations to Nonprofits
A bill that will help minimize the red tape and easily allow owners of cars valued between $500 to $5000 to donate the automobiles to charitable nonprofits has been introduced in the US House of Representatives.
Federal Bill Aimed at Nonprofit Financial Practices
Head of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Dave Camp, Michigan Republican, announced a draft bill early last week that if enacted would levy a tax on nonprofits that pay employees $1-million or more and would require gifts to donor-advised funds to be deployed to charities within five years.
House Tax Plan Would Penalize Nonprofits That Pay High Salaries
The House is taking aim at nonprofit financial practices with an eye toward putting more gifts directly to work for charities. It would slap a tax on nonprofits that pay employees $1-million or more and would require gifts to donor-advised funds to be deployed to charities within five years.
Tax Reform, Extensions, and the Charitable Giving Incentive
Late in January, a third of the US Senate took a public position in support of the charitable giving incentive in federal tax law in a letter delivered to Senate tax committee leaders. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), who is expected to be the next Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and John Thune (R-SD), who also serves on the Committee, wrote the letter and called on their colleagues to sign on.