World Taxpayers Associations: Statutes

These are the Statutes adopted at the founders' meeting on September 28-30, 1988 in Washington, DC, USA, as amended by the Members' Conferences through 25 April 2008. In 2000 the name of the organization was changed from Taxpayers Associations International to World Taxpayers Associations.

The organization's registered office is:

The organization is non-profit.

2. Purpose

The taxpayers' movement has grown out of the desire of citizens to protect themselves from the increasing tax claims of the state. It works toward a society with lower taxes and more individual freedom. It wishes to stimulate efficiency and economy in the public sector. It supports legislation to limit tax burdens, prevent unjust harassment by tax collectors, and provide clear information about government taxation and expenditure.

World Taxpayers Associations is a federation of taxpayers associations throughout the world. Its aim is:

3. Independent of all governments and political parties

World Taxpayers Associations and all member associations shall be independent of all governments and all political parties.

World Taxpayers Associations shall not accept funds from any government or governmental agency. This policy is recommended for member associations.

4. Membership

The founder members are those represented at the first meeting in Washington DC on September 28-30, 1988. Other taxpayers associations may apply to the Board for admission to membership, being provisional members during a time of two years.

Member associations always have the right to adopt their own positions on taxes, government spending, and other public policy issues and are not required to agree with WTA positions. WTA and its representatives shall not speak on behalf of any member association unless requested to do so, specifically and in advance, by that association.

Members may form subdivisions of WTA to deal with questions of special interest within a certain geographical area. The exclusion of members who do not comply with their statutory tasks or violate the goals of World Taxpayers Associations may be decided by the Board. If a member association fails to pay its full membership fee for two consecutive calendar years, it shall cease to be a member association and shall become an observer. Observers may attend Members' Conferences if they pay their full cost for the Conference.

Members may withdraw upon giving six months' written notice to the Board.

5. Members' Conference

A Members' Conference shall take place every two years. The Board of Directors may call an additional Members' Conference at any time.

Invitations to the Conference, including the agenda, shall be made at least four weeks prior to the Conference.

The Conference agenda shall include the following matters:

Every member association shall have one vote and shall have the right to be represented by proxy by another member association. Any decision by a Members' Conference shall require (a) the affirmative votes of a majority of the member associations which are present or represented and voting, and also (b) the affirmative votes of member associations whose total number of members is more than half of the total number of members of all member associations which are present or represented and voting. However, for any decision made pursuant to paragraph 6 or 11, the words "a majority" are replaced by "two-thirds" and the word "half" is replaced by "two-thirds." "Number of members" means the number as determined for a member association's most recent payment of the membership fee as stated in paragraph 6.

The Conference should also discuss matters of importance concerning taxation and plans for future activities.

The membership fee may be changed only (a) by a Members' Conference, and any such action shall require the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the member associations present or represented, or (b) by membership voting in accordance with paragraph 7, and any such action shall require the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the member associations which vote on the proposed change.

Definition of membership: A member association of WTA customarily reports a total number of members equal to the total number of persons or companies that have paid dues or made a contribution within the last 12 months. However, a member association may use any other legitimate method that reports a larger number of members, if the association pays WTA membership fee based on that number.

Beginning with the year 2009, the annual membership fee is US$500 per member association up to 5,000 members, plus US$10 for every 1,000 members above 5,000 members.

There shall be a lower membership fee of US$200 for new or small member associations and for member associations in hardship situations, as approved from time to time.

The fee should be paid to the bank account of World Taxpayers Associations, SWIFT address: HAND SESS 6157-179 698 338 (Svenska Handelsbanken, Stockholm).

The Board shall be entitled to seek the views of the Members between Conferences. The result shall be applicable in the same way as decisions taken at regular Members' Conferences.

Any decision by membership voting pursuant to this paragraph 7 shall require (a) the affirmative votes of a majority of the member associations voting, and also (b) the affirmative votes of member associations whose total number of members is more than half of the total number of members of all member associations voting. However, for any decision made pursuant to paragraph 6 or 11, the words "a majority" are replaced by "two-thirds" and the word "half" is replaced by "two-thirds." "Number of members" means the number as determined for a member association's most recent payment of the membership fee as stated in paragraph 6.

A Board of Directors shall be elected by each Members' Conference for a term ending at the election of the Board of Directors at the next Members' Conference. It shall consist of at least five and not more than seven Directors. If any Members' Conference fails to elect the Board of Directors, the terms of the Directors shall be extended until the election of the Board of Directors at the next Members' Conference.

All Directors shall receive no compensation from WTA. However, WTA may reimburse them for reasonable and approved expenses incurred for the benefit of WTA.

The Board of Directors, in its first meeting after election of the Board, shall elect a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and may elect other Officers, for a term ending at the next election of Officers. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be Directors and shall be representatives of member associations on two different continents. The other elected Officers may be, but need not be, Directors. The Chairman, or the Vice Chairman in the Chairman's absence, shall preside at Board meetings and Members' Conferences. If the Board of Directors fails to elect Officers as required by this subparagraph, the terms of elected Officers shall be extended until the first election of Officers after the next election of the Board.

The Chairman shall also have the title of President. Each other Director shall also have the title of Vice President.

The Board of Directors shall also appoint a Secretary General for a specified term, shall enter into a contract with the Secretary General, and shall provide for appropriate compensation by WTA to the Secretary General. The Secretary General shall report to and be supervised by the Chairman and shall also make appropriate reports to the Board and to the Members' Conferences.

Any vacancy in the Board of Directors or in any Office may be filled by the Board.

Subject to and in accordance with these Statutes and any decisions by the Members' Conferences, the Board of Directors shall manage the activities of WTA, shall make WTA policy decisions, shall adopt standards and procedures for admission of member associations, and may delegate authority to any Officer, Committee, or Council. The Board shall designate and may change the duties and responsibilities of all Officers.

A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum of the Board. Any decision by the Board shall require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all Directors. Directors may attend and participate by electronic communications. The Board may also act by telephone conference or by mail, e-mail, or fax ballot. Each Director shall have the right to be represented by proxy by another Director.

The Board of Directors shall appoint an Advisory Board for a term ending at the adjournment of the next Members' Conference. The Board may appoint additional Advisory Board members at any time. The Board shall seek to include in the Advisory Board representatives of large member associations, representatives of member associations on continents not represented on the Board of Directors, and professional and academic persons with expertise regarding taxpayer concerns such as taxes, government spending, bureaucracy, and privatization. In addition, every member association may appoint one person to the Advisory Board and may change that person at any time.

The Board may appoint Committees and Councils whenever advisable in the Board's judgment.

To be valid, documents issued by World Taxpayers Associations must be signed by the Chairman, Vice Chairman, or other person authorized by the Chairman or by the Board.

The accounts of the organization shall be kept for the calendar year. The Board of Directors shall adopt and may revise a budget for each calendar year. Regular financial reports shall be made to each Members' Conference. The WTA annual financial statements shall be audited by a qualified independent accountant or auditor selected by the Board.

Decisions to amend the Statutes or to dissolve World Taxpayers Associations may be taken at a Members' Conference or by voting according to paragraph 7. A majority of two-thirds of the Members present or represented shall be required in such instances. A decision to dissolve World Taxpayers Associations shall also include a stipulation of how to transfer the assets to other non-profit organizations with similar aims.

Statutes of World Taxpayers Associations