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Editor's Notes: Internal Revenue Service The Internal Revenue Service is considering the necessity of issuing guidance that would clarify the application of the Internal Revenue Code to use of the Internet by exempt organizations. Accordingly, the Service is soliciting public comment concerning the application of Code provisions governing exempt organizations to activities they conduct on the Internet. The Service has made no final decision concerning the need for additional guidance of general applicability and may conclude no further action is necessary. BACKGROUND Exempt organizations, like other organizations, are increasingly turning to the Internet to carry on their activities. By publishing a webpage on the Internet, an exempt organization can provide the general public with information about the organization, its activities, and issues of concern to the organization, as well as immediate access to websites of other organizations. An exempt organization can provide information to subscribers about issues of concern to the organization as well as enable people with common interests to share information via the Internet through a variety of methods (such as mailing lists, news groups, listserves, chat rooms, and forums). GENERAL ISSUES Exempt organizations use the Internet to carry on activities that otherwise can be conducted through other media, such as radio or television broadcasts, print publications, or direct mailings. The growing use of the Internet by exempt organizations raises questions regarding whether clarification is needed concerning the application of the Code to Internet activities. The questions include the following:
POLITICAL AND LOBBYING ACTIVITIES Charitable organizations described in section 501(c)(3) may not intervene in political campaigns and may only attempt to influence legislation as an insubstantial part of their activities. If the charitable organization makes an election under section 501(h), an expenditure test is applied in determining whether the organization has engaged in substantial lobbying activities, with different limits applicable for direct and grassroots lobbying. When a charitable organization engages in advocacy on the Internet, questions arise as to whether it is conducting political or lobbying activity, and if so, to what extent. This situation is further complicated by the affiliation of charitable organizations with other organizations engaging in political or lobbying activities on the Internet. The ease with which different websites may be linked electronically (through a "hyperlink") raises a concern about whether the message of a linked website is attributable to the charitable organization. The Service is considering whether clarification is needed on how to apply the prohibition on political campaign intervention and substantial lobbying activity for charitable organizations engaging in activities on the Internet. Questions include the following:
ADVERTISING AND OTHER BUSINESS ACTIVITIES Many exempt organizations receive payment from companies to display advertising messages on the organization's website. Some exempt organizations have banners on their websites containing information about and a link to other organizations in exchange for a similar banner on the other organizations' website. Exempt organizations may also provide hyperlinks on their websites to companies that sponsor their activities. Some organizations receive payments based upon a percentage of sales for referring customers to another website, while others receive payments based upon the number of persons who use the hyperlink to go to the other webpage. In addition, a number of exempt organizations use the Internet as another outlet for their own sales activity. Some organizations operate "virtual trade shows," an attempt to replicate trade shows on the Internet. Some of these virtual trade shows simply consist of hyperlinks to industry suppliers' websites, while others also include displays with educational information. The Service is considering whether clarification is needed regarding whether the income received from these activities is subject to the unrelated business income tax, and if so, how the income and expenses related to the activity are calculated. Questions include the following:
Comments concerning the application of section 513(i), which governs the treatment of qualified sponsorship payments, to Internet activities were requested in connection with the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (REG-209601-92) published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2000. SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS There are numerous Code provisions regulating the solicitation and receipt of charitable contributions. For example, exempt organizations not eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions are required under section 6113 to disclose in certain solicitations for contributions that such contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes as charitable contributions. Charitable organizations that receive certain "quid pro quo" contributions in excess of $75 are required under section 6115 to provide a written statement to the donor that indicates that the charitable deduction is limited to the amount paid by the donor in excess of the value of the goods or services provided by the organization and that provides a good faith estimate of that value. Under section 170(f)(8), donors making contributions of $250 or more to a charitable organization must substantiate the contribution with a contemporaneous written acknowledgement from the charitable organization in order for the deduction to be allowed. An increasing number of exempt organizations solicit contributions on the Internet. In some instances, the organization's website merely indicates where to send contributions to the organization. In other cases, the organization is able to accept contributions on the Internet, either directly or through a third party that provides a secure connection for credit card transactions. The Service is considering the need for clarification regarding such activities, including the following:
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT The Service is soliciting public comment regarding the need for additional guidance clarifying the application of the Code to exempt organizations' Internet activities. The Service requests comments not only on the situations described above, but also on any other issues concerning application of provisions of the Code in a fair and neutral manner to exempt organizations' Internet activities. Public comments should be submitted in writing on or before February 13, 2001. Comments should be sent to the following address: Internal Revenue Service T:EO Comments may also be sent electronically via the Internet to *TE/GE-Exempt-2@irs.gov. 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 at (202) 622-6494 (not a toll-free call). |
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