CREW FILES IRS COMPLAINT AGAINST AMERICANS FOR JOB SECURITY, AMERICANS FOR JOBS AND GROWTH, CITIZENS UNITED AND LET FREEDOM RING

19 Oct 2004 // Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service regarding four conservative political organizations, Americans for Job Security ("AJS"), Americans for Jobs and Growth ("AJG"), Citizens United ("CU") and Let Freedom Ring ("LFR"), claiming that they illegally file as tax exempt organizations when, in fact, they are political organizations whose primary purpose is the reelection of President Bush.

Because the IRS does not afford tax-exempt status to organizations whose primary purpose is influencing elections, CREW argues that the four groups do not qualify for § 501(c) status. In addition, because none of the entities sponsors a § 527 organization in order to conduct political activities, they are avoiding the tax and disclosure requirements generally applicable to political organizations.ÊBased on these violations, the complaint requests that the IRS withdraw the tax exempt status of each organization and assess back taxes, interest and penalties on each.