This past summer, Jimmy J. Chen, accountant and promoter of private charitable foundations, was charged with six felony counts of tax evasion. From 2009 through 2011, Mr. Chen apparently used his tax-exempt ChenSung Family Foundation to make only a single $250 contribution – and spent the rest of the money on himself.
Mr. Chen, through his office Jimmy J. Chen & Associates, Inc., used to conduct seminars throughout Northern California for individuals and families. Many of the attendees hired Chen to help them set up their own private foundations and advise them regarding his “tax saving” methods. The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is now investigating Chen’s contacts for potential tax violations. Anyone who worked with Mr. Chen is at risk of being investigated and charged with civil or criminal tax evasion.
The Purpose and Function of a Private Charitable Foundation
Private Charitable Foundations are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations that are funded by one or a small number of sources (usually an individual, family or business) that gift large amounts for charitable activities. Following are the two main types of private charitable foundations:
- Private Nonoperating Foundations make grants to other charitable organizations. They have their own list of pre-selected charities to which they donate and/or they run a competitive grants cycle.
- Private Operating Foundations spend substantially all of their income and assets actively conducting their own charitable activities. For example, the Gates Foundation, established by Bill and Melinda Gates with a sizeable contribution from Warren Buffett, actively works to further the main philanthropic goals of their trustees, namely, expanding educational opportunities in the U.S., and enhancing healthcare and reducing extreme poverty worldwide.
Private foundations may not be used for buying yourself a luxury condominium with a karaoke room and an indoor golf range, or for buying life insurance for your spouse, as Chen’s apparently did.
Private Foundation Requirements
Private Charitable Foundations are required to pay only a small excise tax (1-2%) on their investment earnings, but under 26 U.S. Code § 4942(e) must spend at least 5% of the average fair market value of their assets each year on grants and other charitable activities. The failure to make that minimum distribution by the end of the following fiscal year subjects a foundation to a 30% excise tax on any undistributed amount 26 U.S. Code § 4942(a), and if the amounts continue to remain unpaid at the close of the next taxable period, the excise tax increases to 100% of any undistributed amount 26 U.S. Code § 4942(b).
The minimum distribution keeps the trustees from trying to use the foundation to hold their investments in a low-tax environment, but also makes the establishment of a private foundation not financially feasible for small donations. The starting contribution to establish a private foundation is generally around $5 million.
Consequences of using private foundations for tax avoidance
Chen used his private charitable foundation to avoid roughly $60,000 in taxes and is now facing hefty penalties and criminal charges. Felony tax evasion is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or up to $250,000 in fines ($500,000 in the case of corporations), as well as possible civil tax fraud penalties.
San Francisco tax lawyers
Those utilizing Chen’s methods may be subject to severe penalties and should obtain immediate legal assistance from an experienced tax attorney. For over 30 years, the Moskowitz, LLP tax team has worked diligently to achieve exceptional outcomes for the firm’s clients and our lawyers have successfully defended tax litigation cases throughout the United States.