Getting & Keeping
Tax-Exempt Status
NFP2011, Session 60, Friday, June 10
Speaker Biography
TERRY MILLER brings years of training and consulting experience in
the nonprofit sector across a broad range of organizations. His
passion is making information accessible to nonprofit managers,
boards and advisors. He received his B.A. from Antioch College in
Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1977, and his M.B.A. from the University of
Portland in 1984. Terry balances consulting with his work as Finance
Manager for River Network, a Portland, Oregon based environmental
organization working to strengthen local watershed group nationally.
TERRY MILLER
www.TerryMiller.biz Terry@TerryMiller.biz
62 Rudden Ave San Francisco California 94112-2540
voice: 415-333-6320
fax: 415-333-6309
American Institute of CPAs
Session Overview
Today: Focus on mechanics
Today: Interactive – your experiences too
“Organized and Operated” “exclusively for”
Application not always required? Really?
Procedures to file for smooth filing 1023/1024
What to expect from IRS / how to shepherd
How to KEEP exemption: what not to do
Additional resources
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Section 501(c)(3)
…in its entirety (color added)
“(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation,
organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable,
scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes,
or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but
only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic
facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or
animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of
any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the
activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise
attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in
subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in
(including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political
campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public
office.”
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Section 501(c)(4), (c)(5) & (c)(6)
…in their entirety (color added)
“(4) (A) Civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but
operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, or local
associations of employees, the membership of which is limited to
the employees of a designated person or persons in a particular
municipality, and the net earnings of which are devoted exclusively
to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes.
(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an entity unless no
part of the net earnings of such entity inures to the benefit of any
private shareholder or individual.
(5) Labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations.
(6) Business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards,
boards of trade, or professional football leagues (whether or not
administering a pension fund for football players), not organized for
profit and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit
of any private shareholder or individual.”
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“Organized and Operated” “exclusively”
“Organized” = required language in the Articles of
Incorporation, trust document, or other charter
• Articles of Incorporation get filed with State government and
amendments must be filed; States have their own rules
• “Irrevocable dedication” clause for charities is required to get tax
exemption
• Dissolution clause is also required
- C3: remaining assets to another C3
- C4: remaining assets to another C4 or C3
- C5 & C6: remaining assets may also go to members
“Operated exclusively” = ?
• In practice, “exclusive” means that all other purposes / activities
added together must not be “substantial” (ah, tax lawyers!)
• Often substantial is equated to >20%, but is NOT bright line
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Application required?
1/2
Form 1023 is called
“Application for Recognition of Exemption
Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code”
Form 1024 is called
“Application for Recognition of Exemption
Under Section 501(a)”
• This means for recognition under 501(c)(2,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,
13,15,17,19 or 25)
To be tax exempt under any of these sections must
be operated exclusively for those purposes from
inception
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Application required?
2/2
If you:
• open a bank account and operate first, and incorporate sometime later,
• IRS will theoretically treat those as two entities: two applications due,
need two EINs
- In practice, I have seen them more than once grant recognition as a
single entity back to opening of account
The first lesson is: incorporate and get an EIN (via Form SS-4,
can be done online) FIRST
Then “perfect” the corporation (bylaws & board),
THEN apply for recognition of exemption
Application is NOT required from: 501(c)(3)s which will be
below $5,000 in annual gross receipts, nor from other 501(c)
organizations … Say what?
CATCH-22: as soon as you file a 990 they will write and say
“thanks, but who are you? please submit Form 1023/1024”
• Anyone have this direct experience recently? (I am waiting on one.)
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Filing the TEA
Jargon alert: “TEA” = Tax Exemption Application
First tip: file sooner rather than later, don’t procrastinate!
• Facts are often trickier than good intentions and representations
• (Note that they do flag some applications for review of actual operations
in a few years)
Filing deadline?
• 501(c)(3): 27 months from inception
• 501(c)(other): no deadline
If (c3) file by deadline, recognition will be retroactive to
inception (provided been “operated exclusively” for)
If (c3) miss deadline, usually only recognition back to filing
date of TEA
• Unless reasonable cause is demonstrated.
• Anyone managed to pull this off?
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Life before recognition
1/2
What to do in the meantime after filing, while waiting?
• If actually operating, make sure to “operate exclusively for”
• For 501(c)(3) charities, where it is often necessary to show an IRS
recognition letter in order to attract gifts, consider a “fiscal sponsorship”
- Fiscal Sponsorship is another matter entirely, and should not be
called “fiscal agency” “conduit” “renting their C3” “using their C3”
“pass-through” or any number of other words
- Two main models: 1) nascent charity operates as a direct program
of sponsor, 2) sponsor agrees to make grants to the new
organization, usually a nonprofit “organized and operated for
charitable purposes which has not yet received recognition” (this
feels like a pass-through
• For 501(c)(4,5,6…) just start, but make sure to be properly “organized”
and to “operate exclusively” for your exempt purposes
And don’t wait! MUCH better to apply early.
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Life before recognition
2/2
Can someone make a tax-deductible gift to the new 501(c)(3) in
the time before it is recognized?
- Yes, but you cannot give them a receipt, and if your TEA fails they
may have to amend their return to UNdeduct the gift
- Foundations & corporations will not do this, generally, so you will be
left with “friends & family” donations
- Why can another charity make grants to us if foundations will not?
- Part of being a public charity is that it is legal to make a grant
to any entity for specific charitable purposes
- But many of them would rather your new charity operate as
their program rather than trying the fancy regranting model
Do we have to have the corporation “perfected” to file?
• Not technically, only “organized” (Articles filed), but the Bylaws contain
such key indicators of narrow vs. community control, that it will be much
smoother to finish the setup first
• If necessary while recruiting a Board, you can set up with an “initial”
Board of three or so, and explain it accordingly
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The TEA Package
We have Articles, Bylaws & Board, what’s in the application?
• Cover letter describing each attachment
• Form 1023 or 1024 (1023 has a handy checklist and order of
assembly)
• Filing Fee Check (with Form 1024, this takes Form 8718 to carry check)
• Narrative description of proposed program activities & fundraising plans
(how and from who?)
• Proposed three-year budget, or 3-year mix of “actual” & budget
• List of Directors and Officers (these are NOT the same thing)
• Form 2848 “Power of Attorney” if a lawyer or accountant will file and be
able to speak for you
• Form 5768 for 501(c)(3)s that will advocate on public policy (it’s a
lobbying “election” of a more clear test)
• Articles, Bylaws, Conflict of Interest pol, clippings, fundraising appeals
• Membership terms / prices (if any)
Send it by Express Mail or FedEx just for security’s sake
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Process (Tips) for a Smooth Filing
1/5
Some basics
• Neat, type-written, grammatically correct and without spelling errors
indicates likely good stewardship
• Put EIN at top of every single page
• Use a cashiers check
• Unless you are certain you will be super-tiny (in which case you may
not need to file at all), pay the higher $850 fee, not the $400 fee
• The Articles of Incorporation may be a photocopy but should be a
photocopy of the “file-stamped” Articles showing the State
Government’s stamp and date filed (this is the date of inception)
• The Bylaws should have a final page signed by the corporate Secretary
certifying that they were adopted by the Board on xx/xx/xx date (known
as “Certificate of Secretary”)
• For publicly supported 501(c)(3) applications there is a confusing
section (replaces the old Form 872-C) in the form – statute of limitations
waiver on investment income tax payable by private foundations
- just sign it
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Process (Tips) for a Smooth Filing
2/5
Some basics
• The proposed budget is often a huge stumbling block and causes
tremendous delays, for no good reason
- The budget is NOT binding; they are looking for something which
resembles what you’ve said in the narrative
- It is often helpful to ignore their budget page and attach a neat
summary spreadsheet
- For payroll, it is helpful to indicate numbers of staff, highest paid
staff in the budget (even if all prospective) and if the compensation
will be high, say over $100K, then start to think about showing bios
and qualifications and so forth
- With payroll and consultants it is helpful to represent that you will
not pay amounts that are more than comparable-comparablecomparable (skills / qualifications / duties / organizations)
- It is helpful to footnote any particularly high costs: travel etc, and to
footnote consultants to indicate that people doing the work of
employees will not be paid as consultants
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Process (Tips) for a Smooth Filing
3/5
Questions & experiences with these details so far?
Program Narrative
• Be as complete and as specific as possible
• Start at the BEGINNING, explain everything, do not assume the IRS
reviewer understands the problem you want to solve, avoid jargon or
define it carefully
- Ask a friend or relative to read it and see if they understand what
you plan to do
• Include ideas that you may or may not pursue: “While we have no
specific plans, future program options could include ….”
• Keep in mind the “Big Four” tax exemption issues we will discuss later
• Do not hide sticky details – better to work them out now and get a
stronger “license” – anyone can get exemption for a generic “all good
things” but if it’s not what you really do later, that’s asking for trouble
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Process (Tips) for a Smooth Filing
4/5
Fundraising Narrative
• For most publicly supported 501(c)(3)s they want to hear about a wide
range of fundraising plans
• If you intend to use a professional fundraiser (defined very broadly as
anyone doing it for a fee vs. staff and volunteers), explain the
relationship and know that working for a % of what is raised is generally
frowned upon (sounds like sharing profits)
• Earned income strategies are all the rage, but need to take care that
they do not indicate a commercial purpose rather than a charitable
purpose
- Selling below cost is always a good charitable indicator
- Sliding scales are good
- If there are businesses that do what you plan to do you should think
about it
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Process (Tips) for a Smooth Filing
5/5
Tax Exemption: a few words on the “Big Four”
• Commerciality
• Politics & Lobbying
• Private Inurement
• Private vs. Public / Charitable Benefit
These are all areas where you want to be aware of
the issue, but not hide any sharp edges, better to get
them out there; if IRS has questions, they’ll ask
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Shepherding the Application
1/5
The big question: how long will it take?
This is tax law, so the answer is always the same:
“depends on facts and circumstances” 
• Also depends on time of year (many applications filed right at
beginning of year) and
• IRS’ staffing issues (like other organizations, raft of retirements /
baby boom)
Short answer: either fast, 30 days, or 4-12 months
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Shepherding the Application
What happens to the application at IRS?
2/5
1/4
• When they receive it, immediate senior review: about half will
clear on the spot (501(c)(4)s, private foundations, and very
vanilla community theatre type arts groups)
• Others will be put into a pile for routing to a specialist to review
- Especially internet, public policy advocacy, and nearly
commercial
• IRS will mail an acknowledgement and saying to expect an
answer in a certain period (was 120 days for a time).
- Any experiences with this lately?
• You can look up the application online now and see where it is in
the process (and who it has been assigned to)
- Anyone have experience with this?
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Shepherding the Application
What happens to the application at IRS?
3/5
2/4
• After it’s been on a reviewer’s desk for 90 days, it is good to
leave a friendly voicemail asking about status and offering help,
giving a phone number (they are more likely to write)
• If you need to call “EO Customer Service” (1-877-829-5500),
they are in Cincinnati and you should call EARLY in the day to
avoid long hold time
• Calls require an officer or a signer on the Power of Attorney
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Shepherding the Application
What happens to the application at IRS?
4/5
3/4
• The reviewer (rarely) approves them at this stage, (usually) asks
written questions, and (rarely) refers it straight to national office
- Written questions will give you a sense of their concerns,
and can range from one or few stupid questions to two
pages of single-spaced highly critical questions
- If the questions make you roll your eyes, that’s actually a
good sign that the person is just showing their boss
they’re doing their job (sort of) and you just need to
repeat the answers you probably gave already
- If the questions are long and critical and you’re D-I-Y you
may want to get counsel ASAP before getting in deeper
- Answer the questions precisely and exactly, one by one,
clause by clause, in the exact order asked; do not answer
the general thrust
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Shepherding the Application
What happens to the application at IRS?
5/5
4/4
• How many rounds of questions?
- Depends a lot on the quality of the application and the luck
of the draw at IRS – quality of reviewers ranges widely
- Most common is questions you answer, and then the
recognition letter comes in a couple weeks
- However, once at the fourth round, we went to the IRS
specialist’s boss and complained
• Don’t fear the national office
- Sometimes they’re smarter about issues such as advocacythat-is-not-lobbying for example
The entire application and all correspondence is
available for public inspection: save it carefully
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How to keep exemption?
1/2
Technical: filing required every year, due 4.5
months after year end (May 15 for calendar years)
- 990-N “e-postcard” if ordinarily <$50,000
- 990EZ if ordinarily <$200,000
- 990 if more
If an exempt org fails to file three consecutive years,
loses exemption
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How to keep exemption?
2/2
Operational: continue to “operate exclusively”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Watch out for the “big four” and keep learning
Zero private inurement
Zero political candidate work (501(c)(3)s)
No substantial commercial activity (program svc revenue OK)
No substantial (more than incidental) private benefit
Lobbying within limits (501(c)(3)s)
Political candidate work legally and within limits (501(c)(4,5,6))
Review actual operations against TEA periodically
- Watch out for program drift
• Pay attention to governance best practices and stick with them;
refresh the Board as needed; follow your Bylaws
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Resources
1/2
IRS is working hard on public education as a compliance strategy
www.IRS.gov/charities has a wealth of information, especially for
practitioners (and for all types of EO’s not just (c)(3)
www.StayExempt.org is an amazing resource developed by IRS
• Animated “Virtual Workshops”:
•
- Tax-Exempt Status (30 min)
- Unrelated Business Income (30 min)
- Employment Issues (30 min)
- Form 990 (60 min)
- Required Disclosures (30 min)
EO Mini-Courses (online or downloadable PDF)
- Navigating IRS Resources for Tax-Exempt Organizations (7 min)
- Political Campaigns and Charities (16 min)
- The Wonderful World of Foundation Classification Pt 1 (18 min)
- Can I Deduct My Charitable Contributions? (20 min)
- Applying for Tax-Exempt Status (19 min)
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Resources
2/2
www.StayExempt.org
•
EO Mini-Courses
(continued)
- Preparing to File the New Form 990 (14 min)
- The Redesigned Form 990 Pt I (37 min)
- The Redesigned Form 990 Pt II (25 min)
- The Redesigned Form 990 Pt III (25 min)
- The Redesigned Form 990 Pt IV (37 min)
- An Overview of Form 990-EZ (13 min)
- Disaster Relief – Pt I (17min)
- Disaster Relief – Pt II (14 min)
- 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans – Employee (12 min)
- 503(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans – Employer (13 min)
Make sure to click on “EO Update” at www.irs.gov/charities for a free
subscription from IRS – it is blessedly brief, infrequent, well-summarized,
and will tell you of any important news
It is also a good idea to subscribe to the Chronicle of Philanthropy which
will cover important news as well as opinion about IRS doings, which is
good for perspective (“am I losing my mind?” “Oh good, no”).
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