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Governor Wilder’s slavery museum loses ‘tax exempt’ status

Posted at 11:53 AM, Feb 23, 2012
and last updated 2012-02-24 08:08:08-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revoked the federal tax exemption status of the National Slavery Museum, according to IRS paperwork obtained by CBS 6 News. The museum, the brainchild of former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder, was slated to be built in Fredericksburg, Virginia. To date, Governor Wilder has been unable to raise the money to build the museum.

In the paperwork, the IRS indicated it revoked the museum's tax exempt status due to the museum's failure to file a Form 990-series return or notice for three consecutive years.

The Washington Post reported as a result Governor Wilder can no longer receive tax-deductible donations for the museum. [Read More]

In bankruptcy papers filed by Governor Wilder earlier this week, he indicated he planned to raise $900,000 a year to build the museum and repay his creditors. [Read More]