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Glam Journal

What does a 527 organization do?

Author

William Burgess

Updated on March 20, 2026

What does a 527 organization do?

A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of U.S. tax-exempt organization organized under Section 527 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 527). A 527 group is created primarily to influence the selection, nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates to federal, state or local public office.

What are section 527 exempt function activities?

Section 527 exempt function activities include all functions that influence or attempt to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, state, or local public office or office in a political organization, or the election of Presidential or Vice-Presidential electors.

What is Section 527 of the IRS tax code?

IRC 527 imposes a tax on the “political organization taxable income” of political organizations – broadly speaking, income Page 2 from sources other than contributions, membership dues, and fundraising events.

Is a 527 a PAC?

The Section 527 Political Action Committee (527 PAC) in conjunction with Political Organization and Filing Disclosure (POFD) is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) application controlled under the IRS TEGE Business Unit.

Do political Candidates need an EIN?

A tax-exempt political organization may be required to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, even if it does not have employees. The IRS uses this nine-digit number to identify taxpayers that are required to file various tax forms.

Who makes up the DNC?

The DNC is composed of the chairs and vice-chairs of each state Democratic Party’s central committee, two hundred members apportioned among the states based on population and generally elected either on the ballot by primary voters or by the state Democratic Party committee, a number of elected officials serving in an …

What are in house lobbying expenses?

In-house expenditures include the costs of direct lobbying and direct communications with covered executive-branch officials, but the term does not include, and the exception does not apply to, payments to professional lobbyists, trade-association dues, or other similar amounts allocable to lobbying activities.

Who Must File 1120 Pol?

political organization
A political organization, whether or not it is tax exempt, must file Form 1120-POL if it has any political organization taxable income. An exempt organization that isn’t a political organization must file Form 1120-POL if it is treated as having political organization taxable income under section 527(f)(1).

Do political candidates need an EIN?

Are 501c tax exempt?

A 501(c) organization is a nonprofit organization in the federal law of the United States according to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c) (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)) and is one of over 29 types of nonprofit organizations exempt from some federal income taxes.

Can a 501c3 be political?

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.

What is a 527 organization?

Political organizations that claim tax-exempt status under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code are referred to as “527 organizations” or “527s.”

What are 527s and why are they controversial?

The practice of 527s springing up around certain candidacies has led the US Congress to consider changing the laws governing them. 527s can also be political action committees (PACs), though these are subject to more stringent rules in terms of donations.

What is an A527 group?

A 527 group is the IRS designation for a nonprofit group that mostly helps elucidate the issues surrounding an individual’s candidacy, or that may lobby for specific laws or reforms. 527s can also be political action committees (PACs), though these are subject to more stringent rules in terms of donations.

How do I qualify as a 527?

In order to qualify as a 527, most organizations must file Form 8871 electronically with the IRS at