RPV FILES FEDERAL TAX LAW COMPLAINT AGAINST VIRGINIA EXCELS
RPV FILES FEDERAL TAX LAW COMPLAINT AGAINST VIRGINIA EXCELS
The Republican Party of Virginia today called for the Internal Revenue Service to investigate Virginia Excels, a 501(c)(3) public charity organization, due to deliberate and glaring violations of federal tax law.
“Terry McAuliffe is trailing in the polls, so his fellow political cronies are resorting to breaking the law and doing dirty tricks to get their preferred candidate elected,” said RPV Chairman Rich Anderson.
RPV’s complaint alleges that Virginia Excels engaged in overt and unambiguous political campaign intervention in violation of federal law.
On September 7, 2021, only 10 days before early voting began, Virginia Excels issued a press release touting its new “report” on eliminating the income tax. The “report” appears to be one of the first statements the organization has ever issued on taxes.
Although Republican nominee for governor Glenn Youngkin has made clear he is not advocating for eliminating Virginia’s individual income tax, the Virginia Excels “report” and press release explicitly ties their report to the ongoing gubernatorial election. The Democratic Party of Virginia (DPV), Terry McAuliffe’s gubernatorial campaign, and the partisan propaganda blog Blue Virginia immediately touted the “report” and falsely claimed it “details the effects of Glenn Youngkin’s economic plan on Virginia education system,” exposing the Virginia Excels “report” as a blatant partisan political campaign activity.
Additionally, Virginia Excels operates as an extension of Virginia’s Democratic Party through its significant ties between the two entities. Takein Cooper, Virginia Excel’s Executive Direction, appears to be both the only employee of Virginia Excels and the chair of the Prince Edward County Virginia Democratic Party. In addition to donating extensively to the DPV, McAuliffe, and other Democratic candidates and groups, Cooper recently interviewed and was featured in a photograph with McAuliffe.
As a 501(c)(3) public charity organization, Virginia Excels cannot devote a “substantial part” of its activities to “carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation.” However, Virginia Excels’ “Youth Ambassador Program” is a primary activity of the organization that focuses on lobbying efforts.
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