Write-Offs:

August 4, 2005 | Read Time: 1 minute

The Internal Revenue Service has revoked the charity status of four credit-counseling organizations and is considering whether to revoke the status of several more, says Debra Kawecki, a lawyer at the tax agency. The IRS identified two of the groups as A Better Way Credit Counseling, in Greenacres, Fla., and the National Center for Debt Elimination, in North Huntington, Pa. The other two organizations will be named soon, Ms. Kawecki said.
The IRS has issued final regulations designed to make it easier for U.S. multinational companies to take deductions for their charitable contributions (The Chronicle, August 5, 2004). A copy of the Treasury Decision, TD 9211, is available online at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-regs/td_9211.pdf.
A new memo from the IRS clarifies what charities can do in lobbying for or against Supreme Court nominees. While federal law bars charities from lobbying on behalf of political candidates, the IRS said lobbying “to influence Senate confirmation of judicial appointments is permitted” because such activity is not considered “campaign intervention.” A copy of the statement is available online at http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=141372,00.html.