Honolulu • Mormon critics are asking the IRS to investigate allegations that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 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 possible tax abuses involving the Polynesian Cultural Center, Brigham Young University-Hawaii and a Hawaii land management company.
Gay-rights activist and Mormon critic Fred Karger stands outside the Federal Building in Honolulu on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, holding a complaint his group filed against the Mormon church with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Mormon critics are asking the IRS to investigate allegations that the church uses a Hawaii cultural center to commit tax fraud. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)
The complaint comes after Mormon critics aired television ads last year seeking information that could harm the church’s tax-exempt status.
A church spokesman declined to comment. An IRS spokeswoman says the agency doesn't comment on taxpayer cases and doesn't confirm whether there's an investigation.
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 more than 16 million members worldwide, including 74,000 in Hawaii.