HONOLULU — Mormon critics are asking the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to investigate allegations that the church uses a Hawaii cultural center to commit tax fraud.
HONOLULU — Mormon critics are asking the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to investigate allegations that the church uses a Hawaii cultural center to commit tax fraud.
Gay-rights activist and Mormon critic Fred Karger delivered a complaint to a Honolulu IRS office Thursday asking for an investigation into alleged tax abuses involving the Polynesian Cultural Center, Brigham Young University-Hawaii and a development company.
The complaint comes after Mormon critics aired television ads last year asking current and former Mormons to divulge information that could harm the church’s tax-exempt status.
A church spokesman declined to comment.
Karger says it’s unlikely the tax-exempt status will be revoked, but he hopes the attention forces changes. He’s also seeking investigations from other government agencies.
The Utah-based church has 16 million members worldwide, including 74,000 in Hawaii.
