Shane,

Your "stupid question" comes only a couple of days after I could claim ownership of the same "stupid question".
On 7/4/2016 7:32 AM, Shane Kerr wrote:

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Shane writes: Probably a stupid question, but that rarely stopped me from asking
before... Question: Why do we need an independent account? 
Why can't ICANN set up an account for the NCSG and/or NCUC?

Here is a very short version of the answer as I understand it. Constituency groups are Chartered within ICANN, but they are organizationally independent and not formally accountable to ICANN in terms of how they run themselves. Independent of the ICANN expenses of administering such small accounts, maintaining the accounts apparently may expose ICANN to legal requirements, especially if the constituency groups also receive money from third parties. There is some evidence for this in why GAC is asking ICANN to fund its secretariat. Many GAC members, of course, have deep pockets, but if they contribute to the funding of the GAC secretariat within ICANN, ICANN is apparently required to register with the U.S. government as an "agent of a foreign power". :-\

As a result NCUC and NPOC have had to use private individual accounts, since without some formal existence they have been unable to open organizational accounts. That in turn apparently has exposed individuals to personal taxes on income received by the private account. I am trying to solve this problem for NPOC at the moment.

Sam L. , NCSG Finance Committee