The IRS has revised Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and its instructions which went into effect January 10, 2018. The $275 1023-EZ user fee remains the same. The changes are designed to reduce filing errors and increase compliance with respect to those eligible to file Form 1023-EZ. Form 1023-EZ filers must now complete the following:
Category: Form 1023
Proposed Changes to Form 1023-EZ
On September 28, 2017, the IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities division released its FY 2018 work plan. Of interest to nonprofits and their advisors, the IRS is planning to make changes to Form 1023-EZ early in 2018. These changes are in response to the concerns of stakeholders regarding whether the 1023-EZ process requires too little information.
Accepting Donations Prior to Exemption
Newly formed charities often encounter a chicken and egg problem. They wish to begin their operations before they receive formal approval of their tax-exempt status but they can’t attract funding until they receive their federal 501(c)(3) determination.
Nonprofit Law Jargon Buster – What is a Group Exemption?
The group exemption permits a central or parent organization to certify that each subordinate qualifies for exemption and to include it under its umbrella for tax-exemption purposes. The process is designed to reduce paperwork for both taxpayers and the IRS where affiliated entities are similar in their purpose, structure and operations.
New 1023-EZ Form Simplifies Applying for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status
Today, the Internal Revenue Service released the new Form 1023-EZ application form to reduce processing delays and help small charities apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status more easily.
IRS Introduces Form 1023-EZ
The goal of the streamlined application process is to permit small charities without complex issues to get up and running more quickly. The streamlined application will also permit the IRS to spend less time reviewing applications and more time focusing its energies on monitoring compliance for organizations that have been approved.
IRS Posts Standard Form 1023 Questions
The IRS has posted in links to the questions Exempt Organizations specialists are instructed to ask in relation to various issues raised by applications for exemption and miscellaneous determination requests.
IRS Announces Streamlined Procedures to Reinstate Tax-exempt Status
This very helpful Procedure sets forth streamlined processes organizations whose tax-exempt status has been automatically revoked for failure to file required annual returns or notices for 3 consecutive years to regain their tax-exempt status retroactive to the date of of revocation.
When to Start a Nonprofit
We are used to hearing lots of folks – including yours truly – complain about the “nonprofit birth control” problem in this country. While it is true that too many nonprofits are formed for the wrong reasons – there are also many good reasons to form a new nonprofit. The trick is to learn to tell the difference.
Hurry up and Wait – Expediting Applications for Exemption
In general, 1023 exemption applications are processed in the order of receipt by the IRS, and expedited processing is available only if there is a “compelling reason” for it. There are reports that over 80% of requests for expedited processing are denied. If the organization needs its determination letter in a hurry because of circumstances that are within its control, the IRS is not likely to feel that the situation justifies expedited handling.
New Interactive Form 1023 Available for Review
In an effort to make applying for tax exemption easier, the IRS Exempt Organizations (EO) office is developing an Interactive Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption (“i1023”).
Where The &%!?# Is My Exemption Application?
Just a few months ago, we were still telling clients to expect the process to take approximately one year. Now we are telling clients to prepare to wait two full years before they receive a determination letter.
Is it time for a Legal Audit?
A legal audit is an overview of an organization’s non-financial compliance, governance and risk management issues. Organizations typically consider a legal audit when new management takes over and wants to ensure they are starting with a clean slate or the in the wake of a costly mistake.
Sandy Deja’s 2012 Update of Prepare Your Own 501(c)(3) Application
In 2010, I blogged about Sandy Deja’s ebook, Prepare Your Own 501(c)(3) Application. Ms. Deja has recently updated her popular guide to tackling the exemption process. While not much has changed with the application itself (something Ms. Deja notes may not be true much longer), much has changed in the nonprofit world in the past few years.
Forming a 501(c)(3) Booster Club
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.
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.
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 […]
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.