End Dark Money Act: Bill Clears Path for IRS to Investigate Nonprofit Political Spending in FY2025

This bill, titled the 'End Dark Money Act,' takes a direct step towards increasing transparency in political spending. Specifically, Section 2 repeals a current restriction that prevents the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from using its funds to scrutinize the political activities of certain nonprofit organizations. This change is set to apply during the 2025 fiscal year.

Shining a Light on Political Influence

The core idea here is pretty straightforward: allow the IRS to investigate how some nonprofits are involved in politics. Currently, certain types of nonprofits can spend money to influence elections without disclosing where that money came from – often referred to as 'dark money.' By lifting the funding restriction outlined in Section 2, this Act essentially gives the IRS the green light to dedicate resources to bringing these activities into the open for FY2025. For the average person, this could mean having a clearer picture of who is funding the political messages they see, potentially leading to a more informed electorate. While the bill aims for greater transparency, groups that rely on donor anonymity for their political activities might view this increased oversight less favorably.