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IRS Revokes Exempt Status of Community Service Organization

JUL. 17, 2017

LTR 201752010

DATED JUL. 17, 2017
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Institutional Authors
    Internal Revenue Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Jurisdictions
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    2017-102162
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2018 TNT 1-23
    2018 EOT 1-10
    2018 EOR 2-23
  • Magazine Citation
    The Exempt Organization Tax Review, Feb. 2018, p. 109
    81 Exempt Org. Tax Rev. 109 (2018)
Citations: LTR 201752010

Person to Contact: * * *
Identification Number: * * *
Telephone Number: * * *

UIL Code: 501.03-00
Release Date: 12/29/2017

Date: July 17, 2017

In Reply Refer to: * * *

LAST DATE FOR FILING A PETITION WITH THE TAX COURT: October 30, 2017

Dear * * *:

This is a Final Adverse Determination Letter that your exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) is revoked. Recognition of your exemption under IRC section 501(c)(3) is revoked effective December 31, 20xx.

Our adverse determination was made for the following reason(s):

You have not established that you are operated exclusively for an exempt purpose or that you have been engaged primarily in activities that accomplish one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of IRC section 501(c)(3).

Contributions to your organization are not deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

You are required to file Federal income tax returns on Form 1120. These returns should be filed with the appropriate Service Center for the year ending December 31, 20xx and for all years thereafter.

Processing of income tax returns and assessment of any taxes due will not be delayed should a petition for declaratory judgment be filed under section 7428 of the Internal Revenue Code.

If you decide to contest this determination in court, you must initiate a suit for declaratory judgment in the United States Tax Court, the United States Claim Court or the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia before the 91st day after the date this determination was mailed to you. Contact the clerk of the appropriate court for the rules for initiating suits for declaratory judgment.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your taxpayer rights. We can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a hardship, or you've tried but haven't been able to resolve your problem with the IRS. If you qualify for our assistance, which is always free, we will do everything possible to help you. Visit taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 1-877-777-4778.

We will notify the appropriate State Officials of this action, as required by section 6104(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown in the heading of this letter.

Sincerely yours,

Maria Hooke
Director, Exempt Organizations Examinations

Enclosure:
Publication 892


Person to Contact/ID Number: * * *
Contact Numbers:
Telephone: * * *
Fax: * * *
Manager's Name/ID Number: * * *
Manager's Contact Number: * * *

Date: August 17, 2016

Taxpayer Identification Number: * * *

Form: * * *

Tax Year(s) Ended: December 31, 20xx

Response due date: * * *

Dear * * *:

Why you are receiving this letter

We propose to revoke your status as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Enclosed is our report of examination explaining the proposed action.

What you need to do if you agree

If you agree with our proposal, please sign the enclosed Form 6018, Consent to Proposed Action — Section 7428, and return it to the contact person at the address listed above (unless you have already provided us a signed Form 6018). We'll issue a final revocation letter determining that you aren't an organization described in section 501(c)(3).

After we issue the final revocation letter, we'll announce that your organization is no longer eligible for contributions deductible under section 170 of the Code.

If we don't hear from you

If you don't respond to this proposal within 30 calendar days from the date of this letter, we'll issue a final revocation letter. Failing to respond to this proposal will adversely impact your legal standing to seek a declaratory judgment because you failed to exhaust your administrative remedies.

Effect of revocation status

If you receive a final revocation letter, you'll be required to file federal income tax returns for the tax year(s) shown above as well as for subsequent tax years.

What you need to do if you disagree with the proposed revocation

If you disagree with our proposed revocation, you may request a meeting or telephone conference with the supervisor of the IRS contact identified in the heading of this letter. You also may file a protest with the IRS Appeals office by submitting a written request to the contact person at the address listed above within 30 calendar days from the date of this letter. The Appeals office is independent of the Exempt Organizations division and resolves most disputes informally.

For your protest to be valid, it must contain certain specific information including a statement of the facts, the applicable law, and arguments in support of your position. For specific information needed for a valid protest, please refer to page one of the enclosed Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Decision on Tax-Exempt Status, and page six of the enclosed Publication 3498, The Examination Process. Publication 3498 also includes information on your rights as a taxpayer and the IRS collection process. Please note that Fast Track Mediation referred to in Publication 3498 generally doesn't apply after we issue this letter.

You also may request that we refer this matter for technical advice as explained in Publication 892. Please contact the individual identified on the first page of this letter if you are considering requesting technical advice. If we issue a determination letter to you based on a technical advice memorandum issued by the Exempt Organizations Rulings and Agreements office, no further IRS administrative appeal will be available to you.

Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Office is a taxpayer right

You have the right to contact the office of the Taxpayer Advocate. Their assistance isn't a substitute for established IRS procedures, such as the formal appeals process. The Taxpayer Advocate can't reverse a legally correct tax determination or extend the time you have (fixed by law) to file a petition in a United States court. They can, however, see that a tax matter that hasn't been resolved through normal channels gets prompt and proper handling. You may call toll-free 1-877-777-4778 and ask for Taxpayer Advocate assistance. If you prefer, you may contact your local Taxpayer Advocate at:

Internal Revenue Service
Office of the Taxpayer Advocate
* * *

For additional information

If you have any questions, please call the contact person at the telephone number shown in the heading of this letter. If you write, please provide a telephone number and the most convenient time to call if we need to contact you.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Margaret Von Lienen
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:
Report of Examination
Form 6018
Publication 892
Publication 3498


ISSUE

Whether * * *, continues to qualify for exemption as an organization described in the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) because of no operation or activity since July 20xx which includes the year of examination.

FACTS

* * * (Hereafter * * *) was incorporated under the laws of the State of * * * as a non-profit corporation on May 13, 20xx for the purpose of the following:

* * * SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY POPULATIONS WITH A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

On April 28, 20xx * * * was recognized to be exempt from federal income tax as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3).

* * * has operated to provide mentoring to low income and minority youth through workshops and other activities. In July 20xx the organization ceased operations due to operating losses. The organization has not been activity since July 20xx.

LAW

IRC § 501(c)(3) exempts from federal income tax organizations which are 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.

Tax Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(i) states that an organization may be exempt as an organization described in 501(c)(3) if it is organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the following purposes: religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, educational, or prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Tax Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) of the regulations provides that in order to be exempt as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code, the organization must be one that is both organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in that section.

Tax Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) of the regulations provides that an organization will be regarded as “operated exclusively” for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of such exempt purposes specified in section 501(c)(3)

Revenue Ruling 58-617, 1958-2 CB 260, (Jan. 01, 1958) Rulings and determinations letters granting exemption from federal income tax to an organization described in section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, to which contributions are deductible by donors in computing their taxable income in the manner and to the extent provided by section 170 of the Code, are effective only so long as there are no material changes in the character of the organization, the purposes for which it was organized, or its methods of operation. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in serious consequences to the organization for the reason that the ruling or determination letter holding the organization exempt may be revoked retroactively to the date of the changes affecting its exempt status, depending upon the circumstances involved, and subject to the limitations on retroactivity of revocation found in section 503 of the Code.

TAXPAYER’S POSITION

The organization’s representative declared that the organization has no operational or financial activities since July 20xx. Agent discussed revocation with the organization’s representative on August 16, 20xx and he agreed to the proposed revocation as organization is no longer operating for an exempt purpose.

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION AND CONCLUSION

As demonstrated in Rev. Rul. 58-617, an organization’s exempt status will remain in effect only so long as there are no material changes in the character of the organization, the purposes for which it was organized, or its methods of operation. In the case of * * * the organization has been inactive for since July 20xx and has no plans for future activities. The sole financial activity is from payment of outstanding debts. As such, * * * fails to meet the operational requirements to continue its exemption status under IRC 501(c)(3). Therefore the effective revocation date will be December 31, 20xx.

CONCLUSION

It was determined the organization does not meet the requirements under 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(3) of the code.

Forms 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return should be obtained for the fiscal years December 31, 20xx to the present.

If this proposed revocation becomes final, appropriate State officials will be advised of the action in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 6104(c) and applicable regulations. The organization may re-apply for tax exemption as long as it can be determined their activities meets the section’s exempt purpose.

DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Institutional Authors
    Internal Revenue Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Jurisdictions
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    2017-102162
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2018 TNT 1-23
    2018 EOT 1-10
    2018 EOR 2-23
  • Magazine Citation
    The Exempt Organization Tax Review, Feb. 2018, p. 109
    81 Exempt Org. Tax Rev. 109 (2018)
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