Televangelists

• The Subcommittee on Oversight of the House Ways and Means Committee recently released an IRS report summarizing its examination of 29 television ministries. The IRS report was made in response to a request by Subcommittee Chairman Pickle (D-Texas) for periodic status reports on examination and collection actions involving television ministries. In its report, the IRS noted that it has 100 special agents assigned to televangelist examinations on a nationwide basis. The IRS report states that "the 29 examinations … include six examination projects involving prominent television evangelists. These individuals broadcast religious programming and solicit contributions on a national and, in some cases, an international basis. Because of (1) the size and complexity of these organizations, (2) the inadequacy of books and records in most cases, (3) a lack of taxpayer cooperation in ...