Missourians for Responsible Government, a non-profit "social welfare organization," has now poured roughly $1.4 million into the coffers of Missourians for Equal Credit Opportunity, the group opposed to limits on payday loans in Missouri.

The non-profit gave the group more than $320,000 yesterday.

But a spokesman for Missourians for Responsible Government said Thursday it has yet to file an income tax return, despite having been organized in 2009. Records show the group, registered as MFRG Inc., was granted 501 (c)(4) status in 2010.

Federal law requires non-profits to file annual public tax returns, although the law allows the non-profits to keep the names of their donors secret.

Patrick Tuohey, a consultant working with the Missourians for Responsible Government, admitted returns for 2009 and 2010 were not filed, which he said was an oversight. He also said the company's income may have been so low in those years that a return may not have been required. Accountants, Tuohey said, are checking the records now.

The return for 2011 will show substantial income, he said. He said the 2011 return will be filed in the next three weeks.

The return will not reveal the source of the non-profit's income, most of which presumably has been funneled to Missourians for Equal Credit Opportunity.

The use of a non-profit to collect and disseminate campaign funds will be familiar to Kansas Citians, who watched a similar procedure used last year on the earnings tax campaign.