Taxation Issue

Posted on February 28th, 2017

Credit Union Taxation: Banker Attacks and Misinformation

Even though the credit union movement is a small fraction of the financial marketplace, bankers often lobby to gain control of the entire marketplace. They lobby for credit union taxation and spreading misinformation. Here are the facts:

Why are Credit Unions Tax Exempt?

• We are not-for-profit financial cooperatives democratically operated and controlled by members
• Profits are returned to members in the form of higher rates paid on deposits and lower rates
  charged on loans
• Our Board of Directors are unpaid volunteers elected by and from the membership
• We fulfill our mission to “Serve the Underserved” as mandated by law

Do Banks have an unfair playing field due to the tax exempt status of credit unions?

No – Banks have economies of scale, ability to raise capital through stock issuance, unlimited powers for commercial lending and an unrestricted customer base. Credit unions have only a tax-exempt status, which helps them compete.

Has Bank growth been inhibited due to the credit unions’ unfair tax advantage?

No – the Banking Industry dominates the financial marketplace and controls well over 90% of the market share in the United States. While all financial institutions have grown, there’s no indication that one group has gained over the other.

Will Taxation hurt credit union members or the credit union movement?

Yes – A tax on credit unions is a tax on its members. Income taxes on credit unions will limit our ability to pass along a lower cost financial alternative. Further, by taxing credit unions, our capital growth will be impacted which will limit our ability to grow and serve new members.