Intimidating the IRS - 1997-03-11
Intimidating the IRS March 11, 1997,
The decision by the IRS in 1993 to give the Church of Scientology the tax exemption granted to churches surprised many tax experts and outraged opponents of the organization, which has its spiritual headquarters in Clearwater. The IRS had refused to grant the exemption for 25 years; numerous courts had upheld that position; and the agency offered few details about its surprising reversal.
Now a report by the New York Times sheds new light on the circumstances surrounding the controversial decision. It raises so many disturbing questions about the integrity of the process that the IRS and Congress should review the Church of Scientology's tax-exempt status and determine whether the federal agency acted improperly.
{{cite news | title = Intimidating the IRS | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/17006206.html?dids=17006206:17006206&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT | work = Editorial | publisher = St. Petersburg Times | date = 1997-03-11 | accessdate = 2009-12-20 }}