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TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE

EIN 52-1941122 WASHINGTON, DC

Revenue 2024
$1,808,458
Expenses 2024
$1,946,821

Program services were 84.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
W22
Classification
1200
Street
651 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE MISSION OF TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE (TCS) IS TO ACHIEVE A GOVERNMENT THAT SPENDS TAXPAYER DOLLARS RESPONSIBLY AND OPERATES WITHIN ITS MEANS. WE WORK WITH THE PUBLIC, POLICYMAKERS, AND THE MEDIA TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET; EXPOSE AND ELIMINATE WASTEFUL SUBSIDIES, EARMARKS, AND CORPORATE WELFARE; AND MONITOR DECISIONMAKERS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE (TCS) IS A NONPARTISAN BUDGET WATCHDOG SERVING AS AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR AMERICAN TAXPAYERS.

  • AGRICULTURE PROGRAM - TCS EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND POLICY MAKERS ABOUT FEDERAL AGRICULTURE POLICY; EMPHASIZING REFORMS TO CREATE A COST-EFFECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT SAFETY NET FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS; AND WAYS TO ELIMINATE EXPENSIVE SUBSIDIES AND PROGRAMS THAT WASTE TAXPAYER MONEY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED FARM BILL POLICY ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD MAXIMIZE THE TAXPAYER BENEFITS OF FEDERAL SUBSIDIES; IMPROVING CROP INSURANCE COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING; MONITORING AND REPORTING CONSERVATION PROGRAM PERFORMANCE; NEW OR EXPANDED SUBSIDIES FOR CORN ETHANOL PRODUCTION AND UNSUSTAINABLE BIOMASS SOURCES; EXPANSION OF FEDERAL MANDATES FOR CORN ETHANOL AND OTHER CORN-DERIVED FUELS; SUBSIDIES THAT ARTIFICIALLY SUPPORT SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES. TCS PRODUCED SUBSTANTIVE POSTS ON ITS WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, OPINION PIECES IN MEDIA, AND PRODUCED VIDEOS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

    Expenses $350,844

  • DISASTER AND WILDFIRE -TCS WORKS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE INCREASED COSTS OF DISASTERS AND WILDFIRES AND THE NEED TO REFORM PROGRAMS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES.

    Expenses $317,498

  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM - TCS WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MANAGES TAXPAYER ASSETS OF PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS THEIR VALUE, DELIVERS A FAIR RETURN FROM PRIVATE INTEREST USE, AND AVOIDS LONG TERM LIABILITIES FOR THE TAXPAYER. THIS INCLUDES WORK DOCUMENTING TAXPAYER COSTS AND LIABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND WAYS TO MITIGATE THOSE COSTS WITH LESS BURDEN ON FUTURE TAXPAYERS. TCS EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND POLICY MAKERS ABOUT ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY, CLIMATE CHABGE IMPACTS AND POLICY, AND WORKS TO ELIMINATE HARMFUL AND WASTEFUL SPENDING THAT CREATES LONG TERM COSTS FOR TAXPAYERS. TCS COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF ENERGY, PUBLIC LANDS, AND RESOURCES ISSUES, PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS SUCH AS, FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOMASS ENERGY; DOE LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM; THE COST OF SPECULATION IN FEDERAL OIL AND GAS LEASES; TCS ROUTINELY PRESENTS COMMENTS ON ADMINISTRATION RULES AND TESTIFIES BEFORE THE HOUSE AND SENATE. REPORTS, FACT SHEETS, AND ANALYSIS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE TCS WEBSITE AND ARE ACTIVELY PROMOTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

    Expenses $838,334

  • Expenses $136,475

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • MARK SMITH

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • NAZLIN BHIMJI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • DEV BRAGANZA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • DANIELLE BRIAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JOHN BOWMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MARION EDEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MEREDITH MCGEHEE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • CLAUDINE SCHNEIDER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ELIZABETH O'LEARY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • AUTUMN HANNA

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $190,506
    From this org
    $182,531
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,975
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,124
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $21,407
    Deferred
    $7,975
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $190,506

  • STEPHEN ELLIS

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $192,245
    From this org
    $183,645
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,600
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $172,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $11,645
    Deferred
    $8,600
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $192,245

  • MICHAEL SURRUSCO

    DIRECTOR OF CAMPAIGNS

    Total calculated
    $138,556
    From this org
    $132,056
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,500
    Hours/week
    40

  • JOSHUA SEWELL

    DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND P

    Total calculated
    $141,639
    From this org
    $135,389
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,250
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $1,808,458
    Expenses
    $1,946,821
    Contributions
    $1,791,518
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $2,145,604
    Expenses
    $1,970,960
    Contributions
    $2,120,108
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $1,622,430
    Expenses
    $1,795,010
    Contributions
    $1,588,627
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,504,065
    Expenses
    $1,796,135
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,221,300

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,016,078
    Expenses
    $1,595,867
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,670,871

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,255,141
    Expenses
    $1,613,906
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,031,311

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,604,732
    Expenses
    $1,702,304
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,350,678

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,954,248
    Expenses
    $1,821,148
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,479,962

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,557,924
    Expenses
    $1,464,990
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,303,377

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,844,899
    Expenses
    $1,422,913
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,222,678

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,148,594
    Expenses
    $1,311,005
    Assets (EOY)
    $789,230

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,729,519
    Expenses
    $1,370,985
    Assets (EOY)
    $965,865

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $1,417,422
    Assets (EOY)
    $619,889

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared on its 2024 return

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.