Contact: John Eidsmoe, Foundation for Moral Law, 334-262-1245

MONTGOMERY, Ala., Dec. 16, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Internal Revenue Service has proposed an amendment to its regulations under which churches and charities would furnish to the IRS the Social Security numbers or Employer Identification numbers of donors who give more than $250 -- and the Montgomery-based Foundation for Moral Law adamantly opposes this proposal.

According to Foundation President Kayla Moore, "This IRS proposal comes right at a time when other government agencies and civil liberties groups are urging people not to give out their Social Security numbers because of identity theft. Considering the way the Obama's IRS has abused churches and charities and applicants for tax-exempt status, I don't want to entrust them with this power. And the potential for abuse and clerical errors is overwhelming."

Mrs. Moore added, "I am concerned that many donors would be intimidated by this requirement and would refrain from giving, or they would lower the amount of their gifts so the regulation would not affect them."

Foundation Senior Counsel John Eidsmoe, a retired Air Force Judge Advocate, noted that the armed forces recently stopped putting Social Security numbers on military IDs unless the soldier requests it. He noted, "At this point the IRS says the reporting would be optional, but I suspect it would be only a matter of time before the 'optional' reporting requirement would become 'recommended' and then mandatory, although that might require a change in the Internal Revenue Code. No one can claim a charitable deduction unless he or she has filed a tax return, which includes the Social Security number, so why is it necessary that the number be furnished to the charity as well?"

Eidsmoe added that there is a government-sponsored website, www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=IRS-2015-0049-0001, where concerned citizens can post comments about the proposed regulation. He said he has posted his opposition to the proposed regulation and urges others to do likewise. Comments must be posted by midnight Wednesday 16 December. The IRS and the Administration will consider these comments in determining whether to implement the proposed regulation.