Trump officials explore challenging tax-exempt status of nonprofits, WSJ reports

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

May 3, 2025 1:03 PM EDT Updated 4 hours ago


May 3 (Reuters) - Officials in U.S. President Donald Trump's administration are exploring ways of challenging the tax-exempt status of nonprofits, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Internal Revenue Service lawyers have been exploring whether they could change the rules governing how nonprofit groups can be denied tax-exempt status, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. The IRS and the U.S. Treasury did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment.

The meetings started taking place shortly after the Trump administration appointed Andrew De Mello as the new top interim lawyer at the IRS, the report added.

Another senior IRS official, Gary Shapley, separately said in at least one meeting that he was giving priority to investigating the tax-exempt status of a select group of nonprofit organizations, the report added.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-officials-explore-challenging-tax-exempt-status-nonprofits-wsj-reports-2025-05-03/

[Ocelot II]

1. I don't suppose that would include the evangelical churches

that campaign for Trump from the pulpit.

[getagrip_already]

3. Only applies to lefty groups and black churches

Because reasons.

[surfered]

2. They should start with PACS as all those Political Action Committees are non-profits.

[DENVERPOPS]

16. And if I am not mistaken

all the PRIVATE golf clubs and golf courses in America.....

[twodogsbarking]

4. This came to mind, mind you.

https://afj.org/article/the-trump-lawsuit-a-teachable-moment-for-nonprofits/

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. President Trump's repeated targeting of any entity's tax-exempt status is blatantly illegal under federal law.

It is illegal for trump to threaten an entity's tax exempt status

Link to tweet

President Trump's repeated targeting of @Harvard's tax-exempt status is blatantly illegal under federal law.

The IRS cannot be weaponized to target political and ideological opponents — not under Nixon, not under Obama, and not under Trump.

Here is a link to the US Code section cited
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7217

[dickthegrouch]

8. But part of the penalty is no more than a slap on the wrist!

(d)Penalty
Any person who willfully violates subsection (a) or fails to report under subsection (b) shall be punished upon conviction by a fine in any amount not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.

(Looked it up)

Please give him the 5 years, Today!

[underpants]

6. Wasn't there a uh thing with investigating tax exemp organizations that was all the rage on Fox News

a few years ago?
🤔

I seem to remember that. It was complete contrived BS. The IRS directly split the search into thirds - Left Right Green/Weed. Fox and talk radio went full victim mode. The only organization that lost tax exempt status was a progressive operation in Maine that recruited trained and supported female candidates in local and State elections

[creeksneakers2]

10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lerner

[joanbarnes]

7. TAX THE CHURCHES!

[Midnight Writer]

9. If the Catholics don't make him Pope, look for him to attack the Church with threats of taxes.

People think he is not serious about being Pope, but I think this loon is serious about everything.

I have never heard him say anything that could be considered a joke.

Unless calling people childish names count.

[OldBaldy1701E]

12. Hear Hear!

[mdbl]

11. As long as it applies to all non-profits including all religious entities.

[Historic NY]

13. What come around goes around

Republicans run a lots of fake social welfare tax exemptions that are neither 501c4's

[AloeVera]

14. Destroy "Civil Society" a la Orban.

It starts with a "select group of organizations" but won't end there.

No one must question Dear Leader or hold him to account.

[travelingthrulife]

15. churches and right wing propaganda mills first