Local Associations Now Liable for Proxy Tax

REALTOR® associations engaged in state and federal lobbying activity have long been subject to a federal “proxy” tax. Since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, however, that tax has expanded to include local lobbying activity—meaning many local REALTOR® associations not otherwise engaged in state or federal lobbying activity are now subject to the proxy tax.

The proxy tax is assessed to all 501C (6) tax-exempt organizations that engage in lobbying activity if the organization chooses not to—or fails to—notify its members of the estimated portion of member dues that go toward funding lobbying activity. Such a notice must advise members that they cannot deduct the lobbying portion of their dues from their tax liability.

For example, a REALTOR® association that has calculated that 15% of the association’s dues are used for local, state, and federal lobbying activity and would like to avoid paying the proxy tax must provide members with verbiage similar to the following on their dues statements:

For income tax purposes, member dues paid are deductible as a business expense. However, XYZ REALTOR® Association estimates that 15% of all dues paid to XYZ REALTOR® Association go toward non-deductible lobbying expenditures. All members are advised that this percentage of dues paid in tax year 2020 is non- deductible for income tax purposes.

Under Section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, lobbying expenses include expenditures paid or incurred in connection with influencing legislation; participating in a political campaign; and attempting to influence officials or the general public in respect to an election, legislative matters, or referendums.

Visit the IRS webpage for more information on the proxy tax, and consult your CPA or tax adviser for specific concerns.