Charity Enhancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7083
Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Charities
Education
Electronic funds transfers
Electronic government information
Excise tax
Federal-Indian relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Foundations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Native Americans
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Tax penalties
Tax returns
Tax-exempt organizations
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Charity Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) modify rules and definitions relating to the tax on distributions from donor advised funds (a charitable fund in which a donor has, or reasonably expects to have, advisory privileges with respect to the distribution or investment of amounts held in such fund by reason of his or her status as a donor); (2) treat contributions by Indian tribal governments to tax-exempt organizations in the same manner as contributions by states for purposes of determining the classification of an organization as a public charity or private foundation; (3) require certain tax-exempt organizations that file at least five tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) annually to use electronic filing; and (4) expand the bad check penalty to all tax payments by commercially acceptable means (e.g., electronic payments). 

action_date: 2008-09-27
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Charity Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify rules and definitions relating to the excise tax on distributions from donor advised funds (charitable funds in which a donor has, or reasonably expects to have, advisory privileges with respect to the distribution or investment of amounts held in such funds by reason of his or her status as a donor). 

Excludes from the definition of &quot;donor advised fund&quot; charitable funds that receive contributions or are advised solely by one or more public charities or governmental entities. 

Exempts certain scholarship distributions from the tax on distributions from donor advised funds.

Repeals the requirement of a written acknowledgment by a supporting organization (a charitable organization that maintains one or more donor advised funds) that it has exclusive legal control over assets contributed to it. 

Exempts certain compensation and benefits paid to substantial contributors by supporting organizations from treatment as excess benefits.

Exempts certain supporting organizations established before January 1, 1970, from applicable holdings and payout requirements.

Treats contributions to tax-exempt organizations by Indian tribal governments in the same manner as contributions by states for purposes of determining the classification of an organization as a public charity or private foundation. 

Requires certain tax-exempt organizations that file at least five tax returns annually with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to use electronic filing.

Extends the bad check penalty to payments of tax by commercially acceptable means (e.g., electronic payments).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-29
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H10196-10197)
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H10196-10197)
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7083.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10196-10198)
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Mr. Lewis (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in House