No tax charges filed in SPLC probe after IRS lawyers found informant program lawful
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) faced a federal investigation regarding its informant program, but no tax charges were filed. IRS lawyers concluded that the program was legally structured, exempting the SPLC from tax return requirements for payments to informants. The SPLC is currently under indictment for wire and bank fraud related to its informant program, which it denies wrongdoing in.
- ▪Federal agents investigated the SPLC's informant program for possible tax crimes but found no basis for charges.
- ▪IRS lawyers determined that a Treasury Department rule exempted 501(c)(3) nonprofits from filing tax returns for informant payments.
- ▪The SPLC is under indictment for fraud related to its informant program but has pleaded not guilty.
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Exclusive Politics No tax charges filed in Southern Poverty Law Center probe, after IRS lawyers determined informant program legally structured, sources say By Sarah N. Lynch Sarah N. Lynch Senior Justice Department Reporter Sarah N. Lynch is the senior Justice Department reporter for CBS News, based in Washington, D.C. Read Full Bio Sarah N. Lynch Updated on: May 29, 2026 / 2:49 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Federal agents previously investigated the Southern Poverty Law Center's paid informant program for possible tax crimes, but the probe failed to yield any charges after Internal Revenue Service lawyers determined it was legally structured, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.Agents from IRS Criminal Investigation in 2019 and 2020 homed in on shell bank accounts…
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