Professional Organizations and Politics

[erchess]

I have learned on the NAEA board that a Professional Organization is limited (not sure as to how severely) in its ability to Lobby the Government. To get around this NAEA has formed a PAC and a part of everyone's annual dues goes to the PAC even though voluntary donations are actively solicited as well. Apparently the portion of dues that goes to the PAC is not a deductible business expense.

First question - is anything I have learned incorrect?

Second question - how severe are the limitations on a PO when it comes to political lobbying?

Third question - how can I learn more about the law on this subject?

Hearty Thank You for all answers.

[Snaggletooth]

Partisan

I can't imagine the NAEA becoming involved in anything partisan, but I could be wrong. For example, I would not think the NAEA would endorse either of the candidates.

Where they may try to make their influence felt could very well be in preparer regulations, penalties, tax legislation, etc.

Additionally, I don't know if refraining from partisan politics will add credence to the deductibility of their dues, or if any of the base dues are used for PACs.

Is anyone involved enough at the higher levels of NAEA to comment on this?

[ChEAr$]

Pac

NAEA does not support political candidates, rather uses the funds to lobby certain members of congress on matters of interest to out membership. Lately a good bit of this
lobbying has had to do with regulation of all preparers.

And that's about all I know about it, since I'm agin it.

[S T]

NAEA Member

As far as I know, based on my annual renewal, my NAEA fee is my NAEA fee, however, there is an option to check a box to contribute to the PAC fund.

I don't have it in front of me and have to retrieve from my bill file, but I think that is what it is, so our dues to NAEA would be 100% deductible, just not the extra amount that we might contribute to the PAC fund.

Sandy

[Uncle Sam]

Professional Organization/Politics

Sam Matlick posted a response to the NAEA WebBoard that clarified NAEA's position with respect to part of dues being allocated to government affairs vs. voluntary contributions to PAC.
The amount of the dues allocated to Government Affairs is the reason why your dues statement tells you how much of your dues is nondeductible. Otherwise, NAEA would be obligated to pay a tax on that amount.
PAC donations are completely voluntary and are restricted funds and are not part of NAEA's budget, except a minimal amount of administrative time - that under the lobbying rules is probably permissable without jeopardizing its tax exempt standing.

And I would respectfully request that erchess direct any objections to NAEA's postings to NAEA and/or NAEA's WebBoard, and not on another board such as this. This past weekend we've seen 2 such posts.

I think it's disrespectful to NAEA to introduce issues unrelated to this Board.

[erchess]

Apology

I'd like to apologize to Uncle Sam and anyone else I may have offended by posting about NAEA on this board this weekend. In both cases I specifically wanted input from people outside as well as in the NAEA but I could perfectly well have posed generic questions about Referral Key and about Prof Organizations and Politics without mentioning NAEA by name.

[Uncle Sam]

Professional Organizations/Politics

Accepted!!