Watchdog Groups Call on IRS to Investigate Tax Status of Crossroads GPS

Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center call on the IRS to conduct an investigation into whether Crossroads GPS, a tax exempt group organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(4), is operating in violation of its tax status because it has a primary purpose of participating in political campaigns in support of, or in opposition to, candidates for public office.

We urge the IRS to conduct its investigation and make its determination about whether the tax laws are being violated as expeditiously as possible, consistent with IRS procedures.

The status of Crossroads GPS as a section 501(c)(4) entity allows its donors to evade the public disclosure requirements that would apply if the organization was registered as a section 527 political organization. Section 527 groups are organizations that are "primarily organized and operated" to engage in political activities. By contrast, Section 501(c)(4) organizations are not permitted to be "primarily engaged" in activities to influence elections. They are not required to disclose their donors.

If, in fact, Crossroads GPS is impermissibly operating as a section 501(c)(4) organization in order to conceal its donors from the American people, the IRS has an obligation to take steps to protect the integrity of our tax laws and to make clear that such abuses will not be permitted in future elections.

Absent timely and appropriate action by the IRS, such abuses will become common place in the 2012 presidential and congressional races, at the expense of the credibility of the tax laws and of the right of the American people to know the identity of the donors who are providing the money to influence their votes and the amounts they are giving.

The IRS applies a "facts and circumstances" test to determine whether a group like Crossroads GPS is in compliance with the requirements of its tax status under section 501(c)(4).

The known facts and circumstances surrounding the creation, operations and activities of Crossroads GPS in 2010 strongly warrant an IRS investigation to determine whether it is in violation of its tax status.

According to published reports, Crossroads GPS is the brainchild of leading Republican Party political operatives and is operated by former Republican Party operatives. Published reports indicate that Crossroads GPS was formed in order to support Republican candidates in the 2010 congressional races and that it is engaged primarily, if not exclusively, in activities to promote and support Republican candidates and to oppose and attack Democratic candidates in the 2010 congressional elections.

Under applicable IRS standards, there is no requirement that an organization's activities and communications contain express advocacy or the functional equivalent of express advocacy in order to determine that the organization is engaged in "direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office."

If, in fact, Crossroads GPS is primarily engaged in political campaign activity under applicable IRS standards, it does not qualify for section 501(c)(4) status. By cloaking itself in the status of a section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, Crossroads GPS is avoiding the public disclosure obligations that the law imposes on nonprofit entities organized and operated primarily for the purpose of influencing elections.

The New York Times recently quoted Marcus S. Owens, former head of the IRS division that oversees section 501(c)(4) groups, as saying with regard to the new 501(c)(4)s being formed this year:

Past experience shows that such groups often organize during an election year and claim tax status under section 501(c)(4). During the election year, the groups raise huge amounts in unlimited contributions from corporations, wealthy individuals and labor unions that are spent on election activities, with no disclosure of the names of their donors and the amounts they gave. Thus, under cover of their section 501(c)(4) tax status, these groups spend millions or tens of millions of dollars on ads to influence the election, while at the same time hiding from the public information about the sources of the funds being used for these expenditures.

After the election, such 501(c)(4) groups either disband, lay dormant or shift to other activities. This practice is contrary to the letter, spirit and intent of the tax laws, which requires non-profit entities "organized and operated primarily" for election-influencing activities to operate as a 527 group and, thereby, to be subject to a comprehensive public disclosure regime. 26 U.S.C. § 527(j).

The IRS needs to determine whether Crossroads GPS has violated its section 501(c)(4) status by failing to comply with the requirements applicable to such groups, and whether the organization should instead be registered as a section 527 political organization subject to disclosure of its donations and disbursements, or whether it should be treated as a for-profit entity subject to the tax laws that apply to for-profit corporations.

More generally, the IRS needs to address the problem of whether section 501(c)(4) groups are being improperly used as vehicles for groups to spend money to influence federal elections while hiding the identities of the funders of these activities. This matter must be resolved on a timely basis because it will have a direct bearing on whether continuing widespread abuse of the tax laws will allow secret contributions to influence the 2012 elections.

The IRS has a responsibility and obligation to the public to protect the integrity and credibility of the nation's tax laws. It is the job of the IRS to ensure that the nation's tax laws are not being improperly used by political operatives and political activists to hide campaign finance information which citizens and voters have a right to know, as the Supreme Court affirmed in its decision in Citizens United v. FEC, 130 S.Ct. 876 (2010).

Crossroads GPS is affiliated with American Crossroads, a non-profit political organization registered under section 527 of the IRC. American Crossroads is registered with the Federal Election Commission as a political committee under the Federal Election Campaign Act. As such, the major purpose of American Crossroads is to raise and spend money to influence federal campaigns. As a registered political committee, American Crossroads must report all of its contributions and expenditures to the FEC under federal campaign finance laws.

According to a report in Time, "American Crossroads was the brainchild of a group of top Republican insiders, including two of George W. Bush's closest White House political advisers, Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, both of whom remain informal advisers."² Another published report referred to American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS as "a political outfit conceived by Republican operatives Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie."³ According to the Los Angeles Times, both groups "receive advice and fundraising support from Rove."⁴

American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS are, in turn, part of a larger network of Republican-groups that are working together to influence the 2010 congressional elections. According to one published report, four separate groups, including American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS "are collectively planning to spend at least $70 million to help Republicans win back control of Congress this November."⁵

According to one published report, the organizers of American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS intend "to raise a combined total of 'approximately $50 million' to attack Democrats and boost Republicans heading into the 2010 midterm elections."⁶

According to another published report, "Mike Duncan, chairman of American Crossroads, told The Washington Times that his group and [American] Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (sic) plan to plow more than $49 million of it into 11 Senate races in anticipation that the Republican Party is within reach of a Senate majority."⁷

We note that former RNC Chairman Duncan is not quoted as saying the two groups plan to spend more than $49 million to promote lower taxes or reduced government spending, but rather to plow into 11 Senate races.

American Crossroads, functioning as a 527 political organization and registered as a federal political committee, is running broadcast ads that promote Republican candidates or attack Democratic candidates. According to a press report, for example, American Crossroads in late August, 2010 began running ads in Nevada and Missouri that "are designed to defeat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada and Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan in Missouri. American Crossroads has already spent some $600,000 on ads in Nevada attacking Reid on different issues. . . ."⁸ According to this same press report:

Just as American Crossroads is spending large sums for campaign ads to influence the 2010 congressional elections, so also is Crossroads GPS, its 501(c)(4) affiliate. According to a story in USA Today published on August 25, 2010:

The ads themselves that have been run by Crossroads GPS leave little doubt that they are intended to influence the 2010 congressional elections and will have the effect of doing so. The organization is sponsoring ads in the weeks prior to the 2010 election which are highly critical of Democratic Senatorial candidates and attack those candidates on their positions. For instance, Crossroad GPS reports that the follow advertisement began running in California in the last week of August 2010:

As a federal registered political committee, American Crossroads is required to make timely disclosure of its contributors to the Federal Election Commission. 2 U.S.C. § 434. But as a group claiming section 501(c)(4) status, Crossroads GPS has no obligation to disclose its donors to the public and is not doing so. Indeed, on its website, Crossroads GPS touts the fact that its "policy" is to shield its donors from public disclosure:

As one published report states:

Another published report calls Crossroads GPS a "spinoff of American Crossroads" and states that "this 501-c-4 group can keep its donor list private -- a major selling point for individuals and corporations who want to anonymously influence elections."²¹

II. An Organization Which Primarily Engages in Political Campaign Activity Does Not Qualify for Section 501(c)(4) Tax-Exempt Status

According to IRS regulations, "An organization is operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare if it is primarily engaged in promoting in some way the common good and general welfare of the people of the community." 26 C.F.R. § 1.501(c)(4)-1(a)(2)(i) (emphasis added).

Political activity -- spending to influence campaigns -- does not constitute promoting the social welfare. Section 1.501(c)(4)-l(a)(2)(ii) of the regulations provides that political campaign activities do not promote social welfare as defined in section 501(c)(4). The regulation states, "The promotion of social welfare does not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office." 26C.F.R. § 1.501(c)(4)-1(a)(2)(ii) (emphasis added).

In other words, an organization primarily engaged in political campaign activity is not primarily engaged in the promotion of the social welfare of the community and, therefore, is not eligible for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(4). For example, "[a]n organization whose primary activity is rating candidates for public office is not exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 because such activity does not constitute 'promotion of the social welfare.'" Rev. Rul. 67-368, 1967-2 C.B. 194.

Although the promotion of social welfare does not include political campaign activities, IRS regulations do not impose a complete ban on such activities for section 501(c)(4) organizations. Thus, "an organization may carry on lawful political activities and remain exempt under section 501(c)(4) as long as it is primarily engaged in activities that promote social welfare," in other words, as long as it is not primarily engaged in political activities. Rev. Rul.81-95, 1981-1 C.B. 332 (emphasis added).

Section 527(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code describes what constitutes political campaign (i.e., "exempt function") activity for purposes of the tax code:

Revenue Ruling 2004-6, 2004-4 I.R.B. 328, provides a detailed explanation of what constitutes "exempt function" political campaign activity -- illuminating the line between the political activities that may not be the primary activities of 501(c)(4) organizations, and those which may. The IRS there states:

Revenue Ruling 2004-6 explains that, because section 501(c)(4) public policy advocacy "may involve discussion of the positions of public officials who are candidates for public office, a public policy advocacy communication may constitute an exempt function (a political activity) within the meaning of § 527(e)(2)." Rev. Rul. 2004-6 at 1. The Ruling further states:

Thus, regardless of whether an "issue ad" contains express advocacy, it may nonetheless be treated as "exempt function" electioneering activity under IRS regulations, depending on the "facts and circumstances."

Even if an ad discusses an "issue," and even if the ad does not contain express advocacy or the functional equivalent of express advocacy, it can still be treated as "direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns" under IRS standards for purposes of determining whether a 501(c)(4) organization is "primarily engaged" in activities to influence elections.

Rev. Rul. 2004-6 lists six factors that "tend to show" that an advertisement is "exempt function" political campaign activity, and five competing factors that "tend to show" that an advertisement is not. Rev. Rul. 2004-6 at 3-4. The "factors that tend to show that an advocacy communication on a public policy issue is for an exempt function (political activity) under § 527(e)(2)" include the following:

The "factors that tend to show that an advocacy communication on a public policy issue is not for an exempt function under § 527(e)(2)" include the following:

Under this multi-part test, the "facts and circumstances" here certainly indicate that the ads and activities of Crossroads GPS involve "exempt function" activity that constitutes "participation or intervention in political campaigns."

First, the organization was created just months before the 2010 congressional elections, was conceived, organized and staffed by leading political party strategists and operatives, self-defined its activities as spending money in Senate races and is closely affiliated with other organizations similarly committed to spending large sums to influence the 2010 congressional races.

Second, the activities of the organization are targeted to battleground states involving key Senate races, and to supporting Republican candidates in those elections.

Third, the ads run by the organization identify candidates by name, discuss the candidates' position on issues in the midst of a campaign and do so in ways that criticize the positions of the Democratic candidates opposed by Crossroads GPS.

Fourth, the timing of the group's activities do not correspond with external events outside the group's control, such as a legislative vote on an issue, but rather correspond with congressional election campaigns.

C. Primary purpose. There is little question that Crossroads GPS is engaged inactivities which constitute "exempt function" political intervention under the IRS standards. Although the organization can engage in some political participation or intervention under IRS regulations, it cannot be primarily engaged in such activity, consistent with its tax status under section 501(c)(4).

In a 2008 Letter Ruling, the IRS found an organization did not qualify for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(4) because it was primarily engaged in political intervention. The IRS said:

In the Letter Ruling, the IRS considered the organization's claim that it was primarily engaged in lobbying, not campaign intervention. The Letter Ruling states:

The "primarily engaged" test should be applied on the basis of the activities undertaken by Crossroads GPS during calendar year 2010. If a section 501(c)(4) group is found to have primarily engaged in campaign-related activities during an election year, it should not be permitted to dilute that finding by engaging in non-election related activities in subsequent years.²²

Although we do not have access to the contribution and expenditure data that Crossroads GPS is required to file with the IRS, published reports indicate that the organization is primarily engaged in activities to influence the 2010 congressional elections. As part of its investigation, the IRS needs to examine the organization's financial data.

If the IRS examination of the facts and circumstances surrounding Crossroads GPS's formation and activities confirm that the organization is primarily engaged in section 527 "exempt function" political campaign activity in 2010, the IRS should find that Crossroads GPS is in violation of its tax status under section 501(c)(4).

III. Conclusion.

Crossroads GPS was organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Based on the discussion of the published reports set forth above, the facts and circumstances surrounding the formation and activities of Crossroads GPS show that the group was organized to participate and intervene in the 2010 congressional races while providing donors to the organization with a safe haven for hiding their role in funding expenditures to influence the 2010 congressional races.

For the reasons set forth above, the IRS should investigate whether Crossroads GPS has a primary purpose of "participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to" candidates for public office, which is not a permissible primary purpose for a section 501(c)(4) organization. See 26 C.F.R. § 1.501(c)(4)-1(a)(2).

If the IRS investigation establishes that the facts and circumstances show that Crossroads GPS is primarily engaged in participating or intervening in political campaigns, appropriate penalties should be imposed on the organization, including penalties that take into account the need to deter similar widespread violations from occurring in future elections. The penalties should apply to the organization's misuse of the nonprofit tax laws to improperly claim section 501(c)(4) tax status and its failure to operate as a nonprofit 527 group required to disclose its contributions and expenditures.

² M. Crowley, "The New GOP Money Stampede," Time (Sept. 16, 2010).

³ K. Vogel, "Rove-tied group raises $2 million," Politico (Aug. 21, 2010).

⁴ M. Reston and A. York, "Karl Rove-linked group launches new hit against Boxer," The Los Angeles Times (Aug. 25, 2010).

⁵ H. Bailey, "A guide to the 'shadow GOP': the groups that may defined the 2010 and 2012 elections," Yahoo News (Aug. 5, 2010).

⁶ K. Vogel, supra.

⁷ R. Hallow, "Pro-GOP Nonprofits Kick in Millions; Cash to target 11 Senate races," The Washington Times (Aug. 19, 2010).

⁸ P. Stone, "American Crossroads Spin-off Launches New Ads in Missouri, Nevada," The Center for Public Integrity (Aug. 20, 2010).

⁹ F. Schouten, "Karl Rove-affiliated nonprofit unleashes more ads in three races," USA Today (Aug. 25, 2010).

¹⁰ K. Vogel, supra.

¹¹See Crossroads GPS launches new issue ads in Pennsylvania, California and Kentucky, Crossroads GPS (Aug. 25, 2010) at http://www.crossroadsgps.org/news/crossroads-gps-launches-new-issue-ads-pennsylvania-california-and-kentucky (last visited Sept. 30, 2010); see also Crossroads GPS website, at http://www.crossroadsgps.org/video/worried.

¹²See Crossroads GPS launches new issue ads in Pennsylvania, California and Kentucky, supra.

¹³ Crossroads GPS website, at http://www.crossroadsgps.org/ (left sidebar) (last visited Sept. 30, 2010).

¹⁴ Jeremy P. Jacobs, Crossroads GPS Targets Obama in KY, Hotline on Call (Aug. 31, 2010) at http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/08/american_crossr_1.php.

¹⁵ Jeremy P. Jacobs, American Crossroads Airs Ads in OH, CO, Hotline on Call, (August 17, 2010), at http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/08/american_crossr.php; see also Crossroads GPS website, at http://www.crossroadsgps.org/video/bennet-calendar (last visited Sept. 30, 2010).

¹⁶See Peter H. Stone, American Crossroads Spin-off Launches New Ads in Missouri, Nevada Center for Public Integrity (August 20, 2010), at http://www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/2359/ (last visited Sept. 30, 2010); see also Crossroads GPS website, at http://www.crossroadsgps.org/video/issue-ad-robin-carnahan (last visited Sept. 30, 2010).

¹⁷See American Crossroads Spin-off Launches New Ads in Missouri, Nevada, supra; see also Crossroads GPS website, at http://www.crossroadsgps.org/video/thanks-harry (last visited Sept. 30, 2010).

¹⁸https://www.icontribute.us/crossroadsgps.

¹⁹ K. Vogel, supra.

²⁰ K. Vogel, "Crossroads hauls in $8.5M in June," Politico (June 30, 2010).

²¹ H. Bailey, supra.

²² For example, the IRC uses a "taxable year" analysis -- in other words, a calendar year analysis -- to determine whether a section 501(c)(3) charitable group has complied with the limit on the amount of lobbying expenditures the group is permitted to engage in, consistent with its charitable status. 26 U.S.C. § 501(h).