Tax Exemption Has Nothing to Do with Common Bond

To the Editor:

It's been over 25 years since Paul Nadler started to speak to credit union audiences. In all that time his jokes haven't changed, nor has his understanding of what makes credit unions different from banks. His Oct. 10 column proves it.

All the wrong reasons were given regarding why credit unions, and over one million other organizations, including the American Bankers Association, are tax exempt. It is the structure of credit unions! As not- for-profit organizations, their tax-exempt status is clearly defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

Common bond and field of membership, as defined by the banking industry, are not why credit unions are exempt from certain taxes. Similarly, the people credit unions serve, the services they offer, and the size of the organization have no bearing on the tax-exempt status either.

To repeat, it is the legally defined structure of credit unions that makes a difference.

Not incidentally, credit unions were created to serve only members. To this day, the concept of requiring clearly defined membership qualifications hasn't changed one iota.

Sorry, Paul. The real joke's on you.

Mike Welch

President and publisher Credit Union Times

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