Freedom isn’t Free. Especially when the IRS is involved.

The reality is that the world runs on money. To structure a business to be financially stable is no crime, even if the government thinks so. Luckily, I don't worry about what the government thinks about me or my business. Do what is necessary to move forward and continue spreading the message. Semper fi!

Mike, 501c3 is a gag order and we should not submit to it.

We should however find a way to have the same or superior level of transparency and accountability as non-profits operate under. If we do this pro-actively, not having a not-for-profit designation will not harm us. If we neglect the transparency and accountability we will waste precious time fighting imaginary or real fire fights over how was the money used? Was it used appropriately etc?

Part 3 of 3: Last but not least, I will never endorse applying for or accepting any federal, state, local government funding for any reason ever. As a business owner operating as a sole propriotor, I am taxed nearly out of business. I would like to visit with someone that has establised a local or state level organization and is successfully engaged in the war we fight.

Part 2 of 3: So, our choice as chapters or tea party groups or astroturf or whatever other lable the local and state level organizations go under, we must subscirbe to the system to some level or another.

Unless one is going to have the group get into direct candidate advocacy, I see no use in a 527, c3 or other PAC desiganations like earlier stated comes into that political reporting requirements.

Issue advocacy is where we live. So, to provide a level of corporate immunity to those that are in lead positions and to be registered to do business in the state, I (swallow) to a point endorse a 501(c)(4) status. Non tax deductable like a C3, and very simple accounting requirements when working on limited budgets. I have a rule of thumb, that if over 10K in annual revenue, then a C4 is not the way to go. If more, the requirements increase with corporate law and government control.

Part 1: Coming in as the devils advocate here, I offer the following. Here in Montana, we are not able to engage in direct candidate advocacy no matter what status we enjoy. With that, we cannot engage in the judicial branch of our government without standing in the state of Montana. We cannot engage in fundraising activities as a group. We can only indirectly engage in our legislature as a group. To obtain the ability to operate here in Montana, we need to have the for profit status as the national does. ,To get beyond these pesky roadblocks, we need to be registered to do business in the State. To do that we need to have a FEIN and with that we are under the rules of IRS again regardless of what status we are working under.

Michael, I gotta agree with the majority. Live free or die tryin. Becoming a pawn of the Feds is simply several very small steps (such as the one in question) further, and once you take one step the next one gets that much easier Better for us to stay pure, unsubsidized, and unrestricted..

Yes! Please brag about this fact! It is one of the many reasons I've been so impressed with the Tenth Amendment Center!

Another agreement from me on this issue! Enjoying the comments, it is filling some answers for me.
Questions: How does the for Profit work on our local and state levels? Do we keep good records just in case we are questioned or audited (I know the more we get known the federal dogs will start sniffing us out)? Or do we have to declare on our individual tax returns showing profit and loss? (so glad I took courses in business management)

Excited to see our primary results tonight. Florida has a good listing of signers.

Have a good day everyone! :-)
Bonita

So from what I am reading here it serves little purpose other than for fund raising to go the 501c3 route. As long as financial necessities can be met as a private for profit entity there would seem to be no reason to choose the alternative. We are having this same discussion within our local Tea Party currently. I would suggest reading "The Starfish and the Spider, The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations" as it has some great insights on this topic.

As a for profit entity, are we allowed to post articles in favor of candidates that favor State Sovereignty and Nullification?/

The goal is limited government, less government spending and maintaining/restoring our liberties that the government has taken away. I don't think that could be accomplished by accepting more government rules and control of the movement.

Remember, the moment you subscribe to the governments rules, regulations and conditions, you are no longer completely free to function as independently as you wish. Better to stay an independent for profit, making little profit to reduce your tax liability than to become a ward of the state. Keep in mind the "Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002" and its chilling effect on free campaign speech.

for profit! capitalism works!

You are correct. Filing as a 501 3 is kowtowing to an illicit system.