The Internal Revenue Service expects to develop an electronic filing system for nonprofits to file Form 990, the annual information return required of most groups. Terry Lutes, director of the IRS's Electronic Tax administration, told participants in a July 9 web audio broadcast sponsored by the IRS that he is working with software developers to develop better e filing systems.

In the wake of the widening corporate accounting scandals, both the House and Senate have passed versions of corporate accountability and reform legislation. As reported in a previous Watcher, on April 24, the House passed the "Corporate and Auditing Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency Act" (H.R. 3763), while the Senate passed its version (S. 2673) last Monday, July 15th. The conference committee that will hammer out the differences between the House and Senate version was appointed on Wednesday, July 17th, and has promised to be finished with the legislation by July 26th.

Several religious, civil rights, labor, education, health and advocacy organizations wrote a letter to express their opposition to the "Charitable Choice" provisions in the Watts-Hall bill, H.R. 7. OPPOSE THE "CHARITABLE CHOICE" PROVISIONS IN THE WATTS-HALL BILL, H.R. 7 April 11, 2001 Dear Representative:

OMB Watch is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that promotes greater citizen participation in pursuing a more accountable, responsive, and just government. To a large extent, we work with and through the nonprofit sector because of its vital place in our communities and our faith that the sector can play a powerful role to invigorate our democratic principles. OMB Watch works with nearly 10,000 nonprofits around the country -- mostly 501(c)(3) organizations, but also 501(c)(4) organizations and unions -- on various issues, including the protection of the nonprofit advocacy voice.