(a) A political organization.However, a political organization shall be subject to tax under this part with respect to its “political organization taxable income” and such income shall be subject to tax as provided by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 23501).
(b) For purposes of this section, the political organization taxable income of any organization for any taxable year is an amount equal to the excess over one hundred dollars ($100) (if any) of—
(1) The gross income for the taxable year (excluding any exempt function income), over
(2) The deductions allowed by this part which are directly connected with the production of the gross income (excluding exempt function income).
(c) For purposes of this section, the term “exempt function income” means any amount received as—
(1) A contribution of money or other property,
(2) Membership dues, a membership fee or assessment from a member of the political organization, or
(3) Proceeds from a political fundraising or entertainment event, or proceeds from the sale of political campaign materials, which are not received in the ordinary course of any trade or business, to the extent such amount is segregated for use only for the exempt function of the political organization.
(d) For purposes of this part, if any political organization—
(1) Contributes any amount to or for the use of any political organization which is treated as exempt from tax under subdivision (a) of this section,
(2) Contributes any amount to or for the use of any organization described in paragraph (1) or (2) of Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, which is exempt from tax under Section 23701, or
(3) Deposits any amount in the General Fund or the Treasury of the United States or in the General Fund of any state or local government, such amount shall be treated as an amount not diverted for the personal use of the candidate or any other person. No deduction shall be allowed under this part for the contribution or deposit of any amount described in the preceding sentence.
(e) For purposes of this section—
(1) The term “political organization” means a party, committee, association, fund, (including the trust of an individual candidate) or other organization (whether or not incorporated) organized and operated primarily for the purpose of directly or indirectly accepting contributions or making expenditures, or both, for an exempt function.
(2) The term “exempt function” means the function of influencing or attempting to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, state, or local public office or office in a political organization, or the election of Presidential or Vice Presidential electors, whether or not such individual or electors are selected, nominated, elected, or appointed. The term includes the making of expenditures relating to an office described in the preceding sentence which, if incurred by the individual, would be allowable as a deduction under Section 162(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(3) The term “contributions” has the same meaning as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 24434.
(4) The term “expenditures” has the same meaning as provided in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 24434.
(f) For purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), a separate segregated fund (within the meaning of Section 610 of Title 18 of the United States Code or of any similar state statute, or within the meaning of any state statute which permits the segregation of dues money for exempt functions, within the meaning of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e)) which is maintained by an organization described in Sections 23701a through 23701p or Section 23701s which is exempt from tax under Section 23701 shall be treated as a separate organization.
(g) (1) For purposes of this section, a fund established and maintained by an individual who holds, has been elected to, or is a candidate (within the meaning of paragraph (3)) for nomination or election to, any federal, state, or local elective public office for use by such individual exclusively for the preparation and circulation of such individual’s newsletter shall, except as provided in paragraph (2), be treated as if such fund constituted a political organization.
(2) In the case of any fund described in paragraph (1) the exempt function shall be only the preparation and circulation of the newsletter.
(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), “candidate” means with respect to any federal, state, or local elective public office, an individual who does both of the following:
(A) Publicly announces that they are a candidate for nomination or election to that office.
(B) Meets the qualifications prescribed by law to hold that office.
(h) The requirements set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 23701 shall not apply to a political organization or newsletter fund described in this section. However, in the case of a corporation incorporated or organized in this state or qualified to do business in this state, such corporation shall either pay the minimum tax provided in Section 23153 or obtain a certificate of exemption from the Franchise Tax Board before the corporation files with the Secretary of State its articles of incorporation or a duly certified copy thereof.
(i) The requirements set forth in Section 23772 or Section 23774 shall not apply to a political organization or newsletter fund. Further, the requirements set forth in Sections 18505, 18506, and 18601 shall not apply to a political organization or newsletter fund described in this section, except that if it has political organization taxable income for any taxable year, the political organization shall be required to file income tax returns or statements as determined by the Franchise Tax Board under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 23501).
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 59, Sec. 3. (SB 934) Effective January 1, 2021.)