The Trump administration has formally rejected claims by Candace Owens alleging financial misconduct at Turning Point USA (TPUSA). A private letter from the U.S. Treasury has reassured TPUSA leadership that none of the group’s four tax-exempt entities are under IRS investigation.
The letter confirms that Turning Point USA Inc., Turning Point Action Inc., Turning Point Endowment Inc., and America’s Turning Point Inc. all filed their required 990-forms on time this year – directly contradicting social-media accusations that the group had missed deadlines or misused funds.
A senior Treasury official told CBS News (via Daily Mail) the letter is a standard response to a taxpayer’s request, and added the organization found it “hideous that malicious lies and smears obligated her to make the request.”
What Candace Owens Claimed
Previously, Owens had urged donors to “request a refund,” calling TPUSA a “godforsaken organization.” She alleged the group missed its tax-filing extension deadline and claimed as much as $8.5 million had been improperly used.
In another video, she pressed the question: “So what’s going on here? Where did the $8.5 million go?”
Her statements caused a wave of concern among some donors. But with the Treasury’s intervention, the group’s financial compliance has now been publicly certified – undermining the core of Owens’ accusations.
Still, Owens’ team later pushed back against the claim that they had explicitly argued the Treasury was investigating. A representative told the media, “We never said the Treasury was investigating.”
TPUSA Supports Its Financial Transparency Claims
Backing up the official dismissal of an investigation, TPUSA’s internal team – including producer Blake Neff – denied any history of missing filings or accounting issues. Neff stated that the organization is audited annually by an independent third party, and that every expense, down to the last dollar, was reviewed and signed off. “We have never missed a 990 deadline,” he asserted.
Currently, TPUSA remains a large nationwide movement for conservative students, with thousands of high school and college chapters and reportedly around 250,000 members. The group is now led by Erika Kirk following the 2025 death of her husband.
Why Scrutiny Was High
TPUSA has long been intertwined with high-profile political networks. President Trump was a vocal supporter, crediting the organisation for helping secure youth votes in the 2024 election. Erika Kirk has reportedly been invited to the White House multiple times since her husband’s death.
Given TPUSA’s association with influential political figures and its large donor base, claims of financial impropriety naturally stirred intense public debate. The Treasury’s statement, however, appears to have quelled official suspicion – at least for now.
What Still Remains Unclear?
Although the Treasury has confirmed no active investigation, the public uproar sparked by Owens’ allegations underscores the volatility of social-media driven controversies. At present, it’s unclear whether additional audits or independent reviews will be made public.
For now, TPUSA’s leadership stands behind its record – and Owens’ call for refunds seems to have lost its foundation.