Well here is where those watch dog groups are invaluable.
If they do not have an office outside there home, but list "rent" then they are most likely using a portion of their home to "rent" to the foundation..same as phone ect. They can buy a car for the foundations. They would have to declare how much they personally use the car for non foundation purposed on their own individual tax.
The big problem, I see..is that without a line item accounting it's hard to decipher on the 990's what went where. It's so general. The IRS, due to Congress, is stepping up, the requirments and the new forms have been revised as I understand it.
personally I think every non profit, and that includes religious, should be required to file a line item expense report annualy in their home state of incorporation and operation, and it should be on line free, Just MO[/QUOTE]
But would they not have to supply the government with an itemized report?
When I was in farming business, I had to separate everything into catagories, supplies, phone, lights, repairs...I could see if it was similar they could get away with a certain amount of manuvering but if they were ever audited they might be in trouble.