527 Organizations
How Do I Use Text Anything as a 527 Organization?
When you register for Text Anything you can specify that you are a 527 organization from a drop down in the A2P Business Information section of the registration wizard. This will allow you to enter in a Campaign Verify token that Text Anything will submit to carriers on your behalf.
Campaign Verify tokens ensure carriers can identify your messages so they are not dynamically filtered by anti-spam engines. They also prevent your phone numbers and brand from being blacklisted by carriers in the US. If you intend to send political text messages you must register with a Campaign Verify token.
What is a 527 Organization?
A 527 organization is a type of tax-exempt organization that is named after section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code. These organizations are often political in nature and are formed to influence the outcome of elections, although they may also be formed for other purposes such as promoting social welfare.
One of the key characteristics of a 527 organization is that it is required to disclose its funding sources and expenditures to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This transparency is intended to help ensure that these organizations are not used as a way to secretly funnel money into political campaigns.
To qualify for a 527 designation, an organization must meet certain criteria outlined by the IRS (see below with link to IRS.gov). First, the organization must be organized and operated for the purpose of influencing the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, state, or local public office or office in a political organization.
In addition, the organization must be primarily engaged in activities that further this purpose. This means that a significant portion of the organization's resources must be devoted to influencing elections, rather than other activities such as promoting social welfare or engaging in charitable activities.
Overall, a 527 organization is a type of tax-exempt organization that is focused on influencing elections and is required to disclose its funding sources and expenditures to the IRS. These organizations play an important role in the political process, and the transparency requirements help to ensure that they are not used to secretly funnel money into political campaigns.
IRS 527 Political Organization Information
The Taxpayer First Act, Pub. L. No. 116-25 Section 3101, requires electronic filing by exempt organizations in tax years beginning after July 1, 2019.
Among other provisions, this legislation specifically amended IRC Section 527(j) to require the e-filing of Form 8872, Political Organization Report of Contributions & Expenditures, for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020. Political parties; campaign committees for candidates for federal, state or local office; and political action committees are all political organizations under IRC § 527.
Among other requirements, most tax-exempt political organizations have a requirement to file periodic reports on Form 8872 with the IRS. To file electronically, the organization must have the username and password it received from the IRS after electronically filing its initial notice (Form 8871). Use the “Political Organization Filing and Disclosure” link below to file Form 8872 electronically.