Iowaska Church of Healing v. Daniel Werfel, et al
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November 14, 2024
DC Circ. Won't Rethink Denial Of Church Tax Exemption
The D.C. Circuit rejected a request to reconsider the tax status of an Iowa church that used a psychedelic drug in its rites, letting stand its decision that because the church uses a federally illegal drug, it isn't entitled to tax-exempt status.
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October 15, 2024
Gov't Resists DC Circ. Redo In Ayahuasca Church Tax Case
An Iowa church that used a psychedelic in its rites was correctly denied tax-exempt status on grounds that it was organized for illegal aims, the federal government told the D.C. Circuit in urging it to reject the church's request for a rehearing.
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August 06, 2024
Ayahuasca Church Asks DC Circ. To Rethink Tax Status
An Iowa church that used a psychedelic drug in its rites asked the D.C. Circuit for an en banc rehearing after a panel determined the church was correctly denied tax-exempt status since its main purpose was using a federally illegal drug.
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June 21, 2024
Ayahuasca Church Is Not Tax-Exempt, DC Circ. Affirms
An Iowa church that used a psychedelic drug in its rites was correctly denied tax-exempt status, the D.C. Circuit affirmed Friday, saying the church's main purpose is using a federally illegal drug for which it lacked approval for religious use.
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May 13, 2024
US Tells DC Circ. Ayahuasca Church's Settlement Inapt
Federal regulators are telling the D.C. Circuit to ignore a recent settlement that will allow a Phoenix-based church to continue using ayahuasca in its ceremonies, saying it has nothing to do with the Iowa-based ayahuasca church challenging the IRS's refusal to give it tax-exempt status.
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March 11, 2024
DC Circ. Mulls Tax-Exempt Status For Ayahuasca Church
A D.C. Circuit panel on Monday pushed counsel for an Iowa church that uses the psychedelic substance ayahuasca in its ceremonies to explain why the Internal Revenue Service erred in denying it tax-exempt status.
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January 02, 2024
Ayahuasca Church Pushes Back On IRS Claims At DC Circ.
An Iowa church that has used a federally prohibited psychedelic as part of its rites is contesting the IRS' assertion that it primarily exists for illegal purposes, telling the D.C. Circuit it is committed to obeying the law.
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December 08, 2023
Ayahuasca Church Not Tax-Exempt, US Tells DC Circ.
An Iowa church that used a federally illegal psychedelic in its rites was correctly denied tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service and a district court, the federal government told the D.C. Circuit on Friday, saying the church was organized and operated primarily for a nonexempt, illegal purpose.
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October 18, 2023
Church Merits Tax Break, Pro-Psychedelic Orgs Tell DC Circ.
An Iowa church that used the federally illegal psychedelic ayahuasca in its rites was wrongly denied tax-exempt status, a pair of pro-psychedelics organizations told the D.C. Circuit, saying the denial denigrated the church's religious beliefs and flouted its religious protections.
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October 11, 2023
Ayahuasca Church Asks DC Circ. For Tax-Exempt Status
An Iowa church that used the federally illegal psychedelic ayahuasca in its rites was wrongly denied tax-exempt status, the church told the D.C. Circuit, saying it had suspended its use of the drug and deserves to operate tax-free to build membership.