New York, New York (PressExposure) February 26, 2009 -- Penina Kessler Lieber, an attorney in the Pittsburgh office of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel and an expert on non-profit organizations and tax exempt issues, gave a well-attended speech at State College on behalf of the 43rd Annual Conference of Country Bar Leaders. Her speech, which was delivered on February 27, was entitled "The new Form 990 - Are You Ready For It?"
Ms. Lieber dealt in detail with the following essential topics for non-profit organizations which are generally exempt from paying federal income tax:
- Instead of a "tax return" most have historically been required to file a Form 990 "informational return." -The Form 990 did not keep pace with the growing realities of the nonprofit sector- size, complexity and assets. - In order to better monitor the sector, the IRS redesigned the 990 and issued new rules that impact on all nonprofits. - Now: even small organizations that did not have to file before -- are required to file. - New questions have been added to the form about areas that were always covered by state law, i.e. internal governance /contracts/ conflict of interest. - Filling out the new form will incur new costs and time; burdensome and be intrusive to the organizations - Questions are being raised if the IRS may be overstepping its boundaries - elephant under the tent? - Need to balance competing interests of self regulation (by the charities) and over regulation (by government): Will the end (integrity in nonprofit sector) justify the means?
Penina Kessler Lieber practices exclusively in the area of nonprofit and tax-exempt law. As an attorney with the Pittsburgh office of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP, she works with domestic and international nonprofit organizations in matters ranging from start-up and tax qualification to complex litigation before state and federal tax authorities and the courts. She provides nonprofit organizations with full legal services in corporate restructuring, governance, employment policies, licensing/accreditation, financing and public-private partnerships and joint ventures.
Ms. Lieber is currently the At-Large Woman Governor on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) for which she will serve a three year term. Her e-mail address is penina.lieber@obermayer.com Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel, a full service law firm, which is highly regarded for its seasoned representation of non-profit organizations and for its expertise in dealing with all aspect of tax-exempt issues, is headquartered in Philadelphia, with offices in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Altoona, Pennsylvania; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware and affiliated offices in Denver, Colorado and New York. The firm's website is http://www.obermayer.com