IRS Admits Error on Group’s Status

The Internal Revenue Service on Tuesday corrected an earlier report and said that the controversial Task Force on Africa-Los Angeles Relations has had a “provisional” tax exempt status with the federal agency since 1985.

IRS spokeswoman Shirley Nakagawa said that a computer file on the group had not been properly updated and that led to the incorrect disclosure last week that the group did not have tax-exempt status. The group has received more than $400,000 in grants from the city of Los Angeles in recent years, primarily at the urging of Mayor Tom Bradley.

Last week, Bradley dropped his $121,000 funding request for the group in the 1989-1990 budget after questions were raised about the group’s finances and Bradley’s business dealings with its director, Juanita St. John. Bradley and St. John are partners in a lucrative land investment in Riverside County.

Officials at the IRS said they are still unsure if the organization has since filed reports needed to maintain its tax-exempt status. St. John said the group has filed all the necessary reports.