A bill that would prevent the IRS from requiring nonprofit groups to detail their donors on tax returns has passed in the House by a 240-182 vote. Rep. Peter Roskam (R., Ill.) sponsored the bill, which comes as the IRS is under investigation for targeting conservative nonprofits.
The Wall Street Journal reported:
“This bill helps ensure that Americans can never again be singled out by the IRS for their political beliefs,” said Rep. Kevin Brady (R., Texas), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Although IRS officials have talked about eliminating the donor-list requirement, the Obama administration opposes the bill. The administration, which stopped short of threatening a veto, said the bill would “constrain the IRS in enforcing tax laws and reduce the transparency of private foundations.”
Currently, groups are required to submit to the IRS a list of donors who give at least $5,000, and it isn’t clear whether or how the IRS uses that information in audits. Redacted versions of the form can tell the public whether groups are reliant on a small number of major donors.