Pomerantz Back In News

The Washington Post needed a comment about the IRS’ new rules governing 501(c)(4) exempt organizations for its November 28 article “New IRS rules add both clarity and confusion about the role of advocacy groups in politics” and DC-area fan John Pomeranz filled the bill —

“It’s the IRS scandal that pushed them to do it, but it’s terrific that they’re having a full regulatory process,” said lawyer John Pomeranz, who serves on a committee of tax law experts advising the Bright Lines Project, which developed model rules to govern the political activity of social welfare groups. “It has to get fixed, and they recognize it.”

[Thanks to Michael J. Walsh for the story.]

Pomeranz in the News

DC fandom’s own John Pomeranz supplied the summary quote at the end of Tax Notes Today’s article “Practitioners Fear EO Controversy Is Causing IRS To Neglect 501(c)(3) Applications,” published September 11.

John Pomeranz of Harmon, Curran, Spielberg + Eisenberg LLP said he understands it’s politically difficult to increase IRS funding immediately after the agency made significant errors. However, he said the IRS will need added resources to do its work, and should get them. He said it’s hypocritical to criticize the agency for problems that additional funding would alleviate and then deny it that funding.

The IRS faces intense congressional scrutiny and finds its reputation in tatters, Pomeranz said. With little more to lose, the agency should forge ahead and do its work in determinations and examinations, and in issuing guidance. But he doesn’t expect that will happen.

“Too few of us would praise the IRS for boldness, so ongoing timidity seems likely,” he said.

The article is available to subscribers.

John Pomeranz Meets the Press

John Pomeranz, Washington D.C. area fan, is quoted in the May 19 issue of Tax Notes Today (subscription required.)

An attorney with expertise on tax-exempt organizations, he was asked to comment on the Alliance Defense Fund’s plan to persuade clergy to defy federal tax law and preach about candidates from the pulpit the weekend of Sept. 27-28:

John Pomeranz, a partner at Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg LLP, Washington, who represents churches and other section 501(c)(3) organizations, said he would discourage pastors from engaging in ADF’s protest. Although Pomeranz said he’s interested in seeing the results of ADF’s “experiment,” he also said he’s not advising any of his clients to serve as “guinea pigs.”