Muslim group won’t disclose tax information as required by law

Is the clock ticking on terror-linked CAIR? via WND, CAIR stonewalls after IRS revokes status.

In the wake of loss of its tax-exempt status, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is refusing to comply with IRS rules requiring public disclosure of its annual tax disclosure forms.

Two news agencies that asked for the forms were brushed off.

The IRS states a tax-exempt organization must make available “for public inspection and copying” its exemption application and its annual return, including Form 990.

The nonprofit-organization monitor GuideStar, which provides online access to the annual returns of nonprofits, states under its listing for CAIR’s national organization that the Muslim group’s “exempt status was automatically revoked by the IRS for failure to file a Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, or 990-PF for 3 consecutive years.”

“Further investigation and due diligence are warranted,” the GuideStar notice about CAIR says.

The Tennessean newspaper’s Washington bureau reporter asked for the documentation Tuesday at CAIR’s Washington, D.C., office three blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

The reporter was told she should come back the next day, because CAIR’s executive director, Nihad Awad, was in a meeting.

The newspaper did not send its reporter to follow up, explaining it was clear that CAIR did not have the documents.

The D.C.-based Web newssite Politico also tried unsuccessfully to see the annual returns.

Politico said a CAIR attorney initially said the organization’s appearance on the IRS list referred to a defunct arm of the organization, insisting CAIR and the CAIR Foundation were unaffected.

The GuideStar listing for CAIR Foundation Inc., however, states that the group’s tax exempt status has been revoked, and the section that lists annual returns is blank.

WND reported in January 2010 that CAIR’s national office had failed to file financial records since 2007 as required by federal law.

CAIR told Politico the IRS was to blame but could not produce the Form 990 disclosure forms for 2007 through 2010 when requested.

Through it all CAIR’s lackey at the Tennessean put his best spin on the situation.

Citizens should start visiting any and all CAIR offices in their areas and demanding to see a copy of the annual tax disclosure forms requiring public disclosure by the IRS. Find a chapter near you here and go for a visit.