[Vision2020] Tax abuse rampant in nonprofits

[Mark Seman]

I don't know how it could be accomplished, but I'd love to see all tax
exemptions abolished and a proper distribution of the resulting tax dollars.
I have a sense that most tax exempt entities do not provide a comparable
community benefit to offset tax "losses".  Even if a governmental agency is
taxing itself (State, County, Federal, UI, USPO, etc.) - I'd prefer to have
them taxed and the revenues distributed in a revamped system.  I'm curious
as to whether this would prove to be beneficial for a greater good or just a
shift of burden from current paying entities at the expense of current
exempt entities.  Maybe Moscow is unique with its overly burdened tax payer,
but what would be the negatives that cancel the benefits of a more evenly
distributed tax burden?  Perhaps an economist or others can weigh in on this
and provide me with better insight?

Mark

Mark Seman, Architect
Heather Seman, Landscape Architect
1404 East 'F' Street  Moscow, Idaho 83843
v 208-883-3276 / f 208-883-0112



-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Ron Force
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 3:09 PM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Tax abuse rampant in nonprofits


Tax Abuse Rampant in Nonprofits, IRS Says

By Albert B. Crenshaw
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 5, 2005; Page E01

...Everson raised particular concerns about nonprofit hospitals and how hard
it is to distinguish them from for-profit hospitals; political activity by
nonprofits; misuse of entities set up to allow religious leaders to hold
property and conduct business for the benefit of a religious organization;
and deals designed to allow members of a tribe to benefit from gambling
revenue without owing taxes...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26388-2005Apr4.html


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