Suit Challenges IRS Church Exemption From Filing Form 990

A lawsuit was filed yesterday in D.C. federal district court challenging the exemption for churches from filing annual Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service.  The exemption is set out in Internal Revenue Code Sec. 6033(a)(3). The complaint (full text) in Nonbelief Relief, Inc. v. Kauter, (D DC, filed 10/11/2018), contends that:

The information return exemption given to churches and other religious organizations constitutes discrimination on the basis of religion in violation of the Establishment Clause.

The suit was filed by a nonprofit organization set up by the Executive Board
of the Freedom From Religion Foundation for nonbelievers to use to channel contributions for relieving human suffering and injustice on a global scale, whether from natural disasters, human actions or adherence to religious dogma. The organization's non-profit status was suspended for its failure to file Form 990 for 3 years. FFRF issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.