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Irs
- Thread starter jvarnell
- Start date
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Bill Lins
Guest
The Grand Lodge of Texas is a 501 C 3 organization. Its subordinate Lodges are 501 C 10 organizations. I have no idea if the IRS gets or has gotten a roster but I imagine that they could if they wanted one. They might have to get a subpoena but that wouldn't be a big problem for them.
dfreybur
Premium Member
Getting a list of subordinate lodges is a different thing from getting a list of members.
When discussing whether Masonry is a "secret society" answers always come up on both sides of the answer. Our buildings have a visible signs and our GLs have lodge locators on their web sites. Our membership lists are private. Some members are open. Some members are only known to be Masons by their fellow lodge members. That's up to the individual member not up to the lodge.
If I were in the Gr Sec office and the IRS requested a list of *lodges* I'd give them the URL to the lodge locator on the GL web site and ask them why they hadn't already gotten it themselves. If I were in the Gr Sec office and the IRS requested a list of *members* I'd refer them to our legal folks to demonstrate a legal need to demand private data. And I'd ask the lawyers to point out that any subpoena would be reported to the press the minute it was received. The need for private data better be so overwhelming its worth an s-storm in the press about IRS abuses. The press loves that short of stuff.
And when it comes down to it I am completely unapologetic about being private and I would love the sort of press such an event would generate.
When discussing whether Masonry is a "secret society" answers always come up on both sides of the answer. Our buildings have a visible signs and our GLs have lodge locators on their web sites. Our membership lists are private. Some members are open. Some members are only known to be Masons by their fellow lodge members. That's up to the individual member not up to the lodge.
If I were in the Gr Sec office and the IRS requested a list of *lodges* I'd give them the URL to the lodge locator on the GL web site and ask them why they hadn't already gotten it themselves. If I were in the Gr Sec office and the IRS requested a list of *members* I'd refer them to our legal folks to demonstrate a legal need to demand private data. And I'd ask the lawyers to point out that any subpoena would be reported to the press the minute it was received. The need for private data better be so overwhelming its worth an s-storm in the press about IRS abuses. The press loves that short of stuff.
And when it comes down to it I am completely unapologetic about being private and I would love the sort of press such an event would generate.
jvarnell
Premium Member
As long as the GLoT and subordinate lodges know that they need a subpoena that would be good. It seams they are asking any of these orgs to give lists and no one knows they need a subpoena if it is not spelled out or pointed to in IRS Publication 557.
I was wondering this because I have found a bunch of groups that give more info to the IRS than is required by law.
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Bill Lins
Guest
A "roster" is a list of members. As I stated earlier, I do not know if the IRS would have to get a subpoena in order to get a copy of our roster but if they do, it wouldn't be a big problem for them to obtain one.
