Tax Alert: Nondeductible Parking Expenses

Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law on Dec. 22, 2017, not-for-profits have been joining together with a common mission – to repeal the tax imposed under the new Internal Revenue Code Section 512(a)(7), attributable to nondeductible parking expenses. This highly controversial tax code has changed the tax-exempts landscape by eliminating a deduction for qualified transportation and other fringe benefits that were previously allowed for all employers. For tax-exempt organizations, however, this elimination of a deduction directly converts to an increase in unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). 

Driven by a collective mission, the not-for-profit community has consistently advocated through various sources that the new tax disproportionately hurts tax-exempt entities by imposing a tax on an expenditure, as opposed to a revenue-generating activity. This unified effort is beginning to gain traction by catching the ear of lawmakers. On Feb. 28, 2018, the not-for-profit community received a glimmer of hope when the Lessening Impediments From Taxes (LIFT) for Charities Act was announced. In addition to this bill, other bills to repeal the tax have been introduced, including The Stop the Tax Hike on Charities and Places of Worship Act and the Nonprofits Support Act. 

Although the passage of the repeal legislation is uncertain, many organizations like the National Council of Nonprofits are continuing to push for this bipartisan legislation. 

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