Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code allows for tax exemption for organizations organized and operated to foster national or international amateur sports competition so long as no part of the net earnings inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. A parent run booster club must be organized so that it benefits the entire class of athletes or participants and does not benefit certain individuals over others.
Daily Dose of Nonprofit Law
Category Archives: Application for Exemption
Start-up Nonprofits Beware: Ensure your Tax Preparer is Registered with the IRS
Charities should be aware that it is now illegal for anyone to receive compensation for preparing a return for someone else if they have not obtained a PTIN from the IRS first; a paid preparer who is not registered with the IRS is perpetrating fraud. If a charity chooses to work with an unregistered paid preparer, it opens itself up to IRS scrutiny and, possibly, denial of tax exemption plus additional attorneys’ fees to resolve any issues arising from the initial filing. Charities also need to keep in mind that the organization, regardless of whether or not a paid preparer was used, is ultimately responsible for the information in it’s exemption application.
Nonprofit Startups: Repurposing An Existing Nonprofit
Often prospective clients call us wanting to know whether we know of any dormant nonprofits that are going out of business that they could take over. The idea is that taking over an existing entity avoids the hassle and expense of incorporation, creating a governance structure and obtaining tax-exempt status for a brand new entity. Presumably, a new board of directors would be substituted in place of the old board and new officers would be elected.
New Form 8940 for Miscellaneous IRS Approval Requests
// The IRS has released a new form for tax-exempt organizations to use when they request determinations (other than initial exemption applications) about their tax-exempt status. In addition to foundation status issues, organizations will use Form 8940, Request for Miscellaneous Determination, to obtain advance approval of certain activities and exemption from Form 990 filing requirements. [...]
Sweet Relief! IRS Announces Retroactive Relief Program for Revoked Nonprofits
Today, the IRS has made public the long awaited list of organizations that automatically lost their tax-exempt status due to their failure to file a Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N for three consecutive years. The IRS announced that it has revoked the tax-exempt status of approximately 275,000 such organizations, including over 4,000 in Arizona.
CyberAssistant – Not Worth The Wait
The IRS’ continuing delays in launching the CyberAssistant program have left many would be nonprofit founders struggling with the question of whether CyberAssistant and its promise of significantly lower filing fees is worth the wait. Due to the ongoing delays and lack of information regarding an expected launch date, we think not.
Nonprofit Business Planning – Steal All the Underpants!
// As a nonprofit lawyer, I spend a ludicrous amount of time talking people out of forming nonprofits. If founding a successful, impactful nonprofit were easy, everyone would be doing it! Unfortunately, that logic does not deter the majority of prospective nonprofit founders that call our offices. Often what we read between the lines goes [...]
What is an American “Friends of” Organization?
// Generally, contributions t0 organizations organized outside of the U.S. do not qualify for the charitable income tax deduction. Accordingly, foreign charities wishing to establish a base of support in the United States often seek to establish U.S. charities to solicit contributions from U.S. donors to support their causes. The U.S. affiliates of such foreign [...]
Nonprofit Law Jargon Buster: Social Welfare Organizations
A social welfare organization is an nonprofit organization exempt under Code Section 501(c)(4). It is similar to a 501(c)(3) organization in that its income is generally exempt from tax and is subject to the same limits on private inurement and excessive payments to insiders. It is different, however, in that contributions to it are not deductible as charitable contributions and it is able to conduct unlimited lobbying activities. Section 501(c)(4) exempts:
* nonprofit civic organizations operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare; and
* local associations of employees whose earnings are devoted to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes.
Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Fiscal Agency
The term “Fiscal Sponsorship” describes an arrangement between a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and a project, often a new charitable effort, conducted by an organization, group, or an individual that does not have 501(c)(3) status. Fiscal sponsorship permits the exempt sponsor to accept funds restricted for the sponsored project on the project’s behalf. The sponsor, in turn, accepts the responsibility to ensure the funds are properly spent to achieve the project’s goals. This arrangement is useful for new charitable endeavors that want to “test the waters” before deciding whether to form an independent entity as well as temporary projects or coalitions that are looking for a neutral party to administer their funds.
Review of “Prepare Your Own 501(c)(3) Application” by Sandy Deja
Review of “Prepare Your Own 501(c)(3) Application” by Sandy Deja
IRS Cyber Assistant – Is it Worth the Wait?
In 2003, the number of applications for exemption had gone up by over 40% with no corresponding increase in the number of IRS Exempt Organization employees. This motivated the IRS to consider how to streamline the application for exemption process to make processing easier for both the IRS and the applicant. The IRS invited a panel of experts from the nonprofit legal community to make recommendations to improve the application process. The panel’s key recommendation was that the IRS revive earlier plans to develop and fund an interactive online Form 1023 filing tool accessible through the IRS website known as the “Cyber Assistant.”
UPDATE: On May 7, 2010, IRS announced in IRS Exempt Organization Update 2010-11, that Cyber Assistant is delayed – no release this year.
ABC’s for Exempt Organizations
The ever improving IRS Exempt Organizations webpage offers the following resources to help the manager of a new exempt organization navigate tax issues. The site notes that these materials are not comprehensive and that for further assistance, exempt organizations should consult a tax adviser. The materials, do, however, offer a valuable primer to those looking to educate themselves about their tax compliance obligations.
Caveat Emptor – Legal Document Preparers
In my practice representing nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, there are often themes that emerge. Over the last few weeks I have had a spate of calls from would be nonprofits that paid either a nonprofit start-up “consultant” or a document preparation company to form their nonprofit and handle their IRS filings. In each case, the work product that made it to my office required substantially more work to fix than it would have taken to do properly the first time around. You get what you pay for, and sometimes, you pay dearly for what you get. Before hiring someone to help you with the legal and tax aspects of starting a nonprofit, make sure they are licensed to provide the type of assistance they are offering, have specific experience representing nonprofits, and are in fact representing you rather than helping you to commit malpractice on yourself.
EO Exemption Application User Fees to Increase in 2010
Here’s a tip for nonprofits planning to apply for tax exempt status: submit the application for exemption in 2009, before the fees increase. The IRS has announced it is implementing an online application system known as Cyber Assistant in 2010. Once it’s launched, the application fees will change again and there will be a reduced fee for [...]
Part III: Starting a Nonprofit in Arizona – Applying for Tax-Exempt Status
Forming a nonprofit corporation is not the same as being tax-exempt. To obtain 501(c)(3) status, newly formed entities must apply to the IRS for a formal determination of exemption. Entities seeking 501(c)(3) status apply by filing Form 1023. (Entities seeking exemption under other sections of 501(c) file Form 1024.)
Newly formed organizations applying for exemption face a chicken and egg dilemma. Form 1023 requests considerable detail regarding the charity’s planned programs and activities. The attitude of the IRS is that requiring applicants to articulate detailed plans is a small price to pay for the significant tax benefits associated with 501(c)(3) status.
Part I: Starting a Nonprofit in Arizona – Laying the Groundwork
I receive several calls a week from people who want to start a new non-profit. Looking back on my legal career, I realize that many of the tax-exempt organizations I helped to create early on never got off the ground. Today, I consider it part of my responsibility to the potential new client and to the sector to educate would be founders on the realities of the marketplace. What follows is a walk through the typical discussion that I have with potential founders.
Quick Tips for Setting Nonprofit Executive Compensation
To ensure its decisions will stand up to the scrutiny of the media, regulators, and donors, and protect the employee as well as the board from personal liability, nonprofits that employ executive staff should consider implementing practices and procedures that ensure its executive compensation procedures are thorough, well-documented, and free of conflicts of interest.
IRS Issues Guidelines for Processing Exemption Applications
The I.R.S. has made the guidelines it provides to its exempt organization determination specialists for processing tax exemption applications publicly available.
