IRS Revokes Organization's Tax-Exempt Status

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

UIL: 501.03-00
Release Date: 3/12/2021

Date: August 27, 2020

Taxpayer ID Number: * * *

Form: * * *

Tax Periods Ending: * * *

LAST DAY FOR FILING A PETITION WITH THE TAX COURT: * * *

Dear * * *:

This is a final determination that you do not qualify for exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a) as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3), effective August 18, 20XX. Your determination letter dated January 28, 20XX is revoked.

Our adverse determination as to your exempt status was made for the following reasons:

Organizations described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and exempt under Section 501(a) must be both organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes. Your organization did not have the required organizing document actively on file with the Secretary of State upon filing your application for recognition of exemption under Section 501(c)(3). You have not demonstrated that you are operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or other exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3). An organization will not be so regarded if more than an insubstantial part of its activities is not in furtherance of an exempt purpose. You have not established that you have operated exclusively for an exempt purpose.

As such, you failed to meet the requirements of IRC Section 501(c)(3) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a), in that you have not established that you were organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes and that no part of your earnings inured to the benefit of private shareholders or individuals.

Contributions to your organization are no longer deductible under IRC Section 170.

Organizations that are not exempt under IRC Section 501 generally are required to file federal income tax returns and pay tax, where applicable. For further instructions, forms, and information please visit www.irs.gov.

If you decide to contest this determination, you may file an action for declaratory judgment under the provisions of IRC Section 7428 in one of the following three venues: 1) United States Tax Court, 2) the United States Court of Federal Claims, or 3) the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. A petition or complaint in one of these three courts must be filed within 90 days from the date this determination was mailed to you. Please contact the clerk of the appropriate court for rules and the appropriate forms for filing petitions for declaratory judgment by referring to the enclosed Publication 892. You may write to the courts at the following addresses:

Processing of income tax returns and assessments of any taxes due will not be delayed if you file a petition for declaratory judgment under IRC Section 7428.

We'll notify the appropriate state officials (as permitted by law) of our determination that you aren't an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3).

You may be eligible for help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your taxpayer rights. TAS 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 TAS assistance, which is always free, TAS will do everything possible to help you. Visit www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 1-877-777-4778.

Taxpayer Advocate assistance can't be used as substitute for established IRS procedures, formal appeals processes, etc. The Taxpayer Advocate is not able to reverse legal or technically correct tax determination, nor extend the time fixed by law that you have to file a petition in Court. The Taxpayer Advocate can, however, see that a tax matter that may not have been resolved through normal channels gets prompt and proper handling.

You can get any of the forms or publications mentioned in this letter by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) or visiting our website at www.irs.gov/forms-pubs.

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

Sincerely,

Sean E. O'Reilly
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 892

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Person to Contact: * * *
Employee ID: * * *
Telephone: * * *
Fax: * * * 

Manager's Contact Information: * * *
Employee ID: * * *
Telephone: * * * 

Date: August 20, 2019

Taxpayer Identification Number: * * *

Form: * * *

Tax Year(s) Ended: * * *

Response Due Date: * * *

Dear * * *:

Why you're receiving this letter

We enclosed a copy of our audit report, Form 886-A, Explanation of Items, explaining that we propose to revoke your tax-exempt status as an organization described in Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3).

If you agree

If you haven't already, please sign the enclosed Form 6018, Consent to Proposed Action, and return it to the contact person shown at the top of this letter. We'll issue a final adverse letter determining that you aren't an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) for the periods above.

After we issue the final adverse determination letter, we'll announce that your organization is no longer eligible to receive tax deductible contributions under IRC Section 170.

If you disagree

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 adverse determination letter.

Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Office is a taxpayer right

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your taxpayer rights. TAS 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 TAS assistance, which is always free, TAS will do everything possible to help you. Visit www.taxpaveradvocate.irs.gov or call 877-777-4778.

For additional information

You can get any of the forms and publications mentioned in this letter by visiting our website at www.irs.gov/forms-pubs or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

If you have questions, you can contact the person shown at the top of this letter.

[signed]

for Maria Hooke
Director, Exempt Organizations
Examinations

Enclosures:
Form 886-A
Form 6018
Form 4612-A
Publication 892
Publication 3498-A

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Date of Notice: August 20, 20XX

Issues

Whether the exempt status of * * * (the Organization) under IRC § 501(c)(3) should be revoked, effective August 18, 20XX because it is not organized exclusively for exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) and Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)?

Facts

* * * applied for tax-exempt status by filing the Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, on January 19, 20XX, and was granted tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) on January 28, 20XX, with an effective date of August 18, 20XX.

An organization exempt under 501(c)(3) needs to be organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary or educational purposes and to foster national and amateur sports competition.

The organization attested on Form 1023-EZ, part II, box 2 that they have the organizing document necessary for their organizational structure.

Section 501(c)(3) requires that an organizing document must limit your purposes to one or more exempt purposes within section 501(c)(3). The organization attested that their organizing document contains this limitation.

They also attested that their organizing document does not expressly empower you to engage, otherwise than as an insubstantial part of your activities, in activities that in themselves are not in furtherance of one or more exempt purposes.

The organization attested that their organizing document contains the dissolution provision required under section 501(c)(3) or that they did not need an express dissolution provision in your organizing document because they rely on the operation of state law in the state in which you are formed for your dissolution provision.

The organization was selected for audit to ensure that the activities and operations align with their approved exempt status.

The organization failed to respond to the Internal Revenue Service attempts to obtain information to perform an audit for the tax year ending December 31, 20XX.

The organization has not filed a Form 990 series return for the tax years ending December 31, 20XX and December 31, 20XX.

The organizing documents that the agent obtained from the State of * * * do not contain a proper dissolution clause. The Articles of Incorporation specifically state “All assets are to be given to * * * and * * *, founders of * * *.".

The organizing documents that the agent obtained from the State of * * * do not limit the purpose of the Organization to one or more exempt purposes.

The organization is shown as “Administratively Dissolved" on the State of * * * website, as of July 5, 20XX.

The agent made several attempts to contact the Organization to request that it conform its organizing documents. Specifically, the agent attempted to contact Organization by letter on 0 occasions. The agent also called a representative of the Organization on 0 occasions. The agent received one phone call in response to the letters and the voicemail message. The agent received no written response containing the information requested.

•  Telephone contact for the audit was as follows:

  • May 28, 20XX, called the phone number listed on the most recently filed tax return, * * * and received VMS. Left a message for an officer of the organization to return the phone call.

  • May 31, 20XX, through external research located a different phone number for the president of * * * and received VMS. Left a message for an officer of the organization to return the phone call.

  • June 7, 20XX, second attempt to reach the president at * * * and received VMS. Left a message for an officer of the organization to return the phone call.

  • June 7, 20XX, president of the organization returned call to the agent. He had not received any letters from the Internal Revenue Service and felt the phone calls were a scam. He stated the organization had terminated but could not provide the termination date. The agent received updated address and mailed original letters, along with a second Information Document Request, requesting termination information.

Law

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §501(c)(3) of the Code provides that an organization organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes is exempt from Federal income tax, provided no part of its net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

Treasury Regulations (Regulation) 1.501(c)(3)-1 In order to be exempt under §501(c)(3) the organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in the section, (religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary or educational).

Regulation §1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) of the regulations states that in order to be exempt as an organization described in section 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in such section. If an organization fails to meet either the organizational test or the operational test, it is not exempt.

Regulation §1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1)(i) An organization is organized exclusively for one or more exempt purposes only if its articles of organization (a) Limit the purposes of such organization to one or more exempt purposes; and (b) Do not expressly empower the organization to engage, otherwise than as an insubstantial part of its activities, in activities which in themselves are not in furtherance of one or more exempt purposes.

Regulation 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(4) An organization is not organized exclusively for one or more exempt purposes unless its assets are dedicated to an exempt purpose. An organization's assets will be considered dedicated to an exempt purpose, for example, if, upon dissolution, such assets would, by reason of a provision in the organization's articles or by operation of law, be distributed for one or more exempt purposes, or to the Federal Government, or to a State or local government, for a public purpose, or would be distributed by a court to another organization to be used in such manner as in the judgment of the court will best accomplish the general purposes for which the dissolved organization was organized. However, an organization does not meet the organizational test if its articles or the law of the State in which it was created provide that its assets would, upon dissolution, be distributed to its members or shareholders.

IRC §6001 of the Code provides that every person liable for any tax imposed by this title, or for the collection thereof, shall keep such records, render such statements, make such returns, and comply with such rules and regulations as the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. Whenever in the judgment of the Secretary it is necessary, he may require any person, by notice served upon such person or by regulations, to make such returns, render such statements, or keep such records, as the Secretary deems sufficient to show whether or not such person is liable for tax under this title.

IRC §6033(a)(1) of the Code provides, except as provided in section 6033(a)(2), every organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) shall file an annual return, stating specifically the items of gross income, receipts and disbursements, and such other information for the purposes of carrying out the internal revenue laws as the Secretary may by forms or regulations prescribe, and keep such records, render under oath such statements, make such other returns, and comply with such rules and regulations as the Secretary may from time to time prescribe.

Regulation §1.6001-1(c) of the Code provides that such permanent books and records as are required by paragraph (a) of this section with respect to the tax imposed by section 511 on unrelated business income of certain exempt organizations, every organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) shall keep such permanent books of account or records, including inventories, as are sufficient to show specifically the items of gross income, receipts and disbursements. Such organizations shall also keep such books and records as are required to substantiate the information required by section 6033. See section 6033 and §§ 1.6033-1 through 1.6033-3.

Regulation §1.6001-1(e) of the Code provides that the books or records required by this section shall be kept at all time available for inspection by authorized internal revenue officers or employees and shall be retained as long as the contents thereof may be material in the administration of any internal revenue law.

Regulation §1.6033-1(h)(2) of the regulations provides that every organization which has established its right to exemption from tax, whether or not it is required to file an annual return of information, shall submit such additional information as may be required by the district director for the purpose of enabling him to inquire further into its exempt status and to administer the provisions of subchapter F (section 501 and the following), chapter 1 of the Code and section 6033.

Rev. Rul. 59-95, 1959-1 C.B. 627, concerns an exempt organization that was requested to produce a financial statement and statement of its operations for a certain year. However, its records were so incomplete that the organization was unable to furnish such statements. The Service held that the failure or inability to file the required information return or otherwise to comply with the provisions of section 6033 of the Code and the regulations which implement it, may result in the termination of the exempt status of an organization previously held exempt, on the grounds that the organization has not established that it is observing the conditions required for the continuation of exempt status.

Rev. Proc. 2019-5, Sec 11.02(3) Inaccurate information on request. A determination letter issued to an organization that submitted a request in accordance with this revenue procedure may not be relied upon by the organization submitting the request if it was based on any inaccurate material information submitted by the organization. Inaccurate material information includes an incorrect representation or attestation as to the organization's organizational documents, the organization's exempt purpose, the organization's conduct of prohibited and restricted activities, or the organization's eligibility to file Form 1023-EZ.

Organization's Position

Taxpayer's position is unknown at this time.

Government's Position

Based on the above facts, the Organization has not established that it had organizing documents limiting the purpose of the organization to one or more exempt purposes, or a proper dissolution clause that meet the organizational test under IRC section 501(c)(3), at the time of applying for tax exemption.

If an organization fails to meet either the organizational test or the operational test, it is not exempt.

In accordance with the above-cited provisions of the Code and regulations under sections 6001 and 6033, organizations recognized as exempt from federal income tax must meet certain reporting requirements. These requirements relate to the filing of a complete and accurate annual information (and other required federal tax forms) and the retention of records sufficient to determine whether such entity is operated for the purposes for which it was granted tax-exempt status and to determine its liability for any unrelated business income tax.

Section 1.6033-1(h)(2) of the regulations specifically state that exempt organizations shall submit additional information for the purpose on enabling the Internal Revenue Service to inquire further into its exempt status.

The Organization fails the organizational test because it did not establish that it had an organizing document that complied with section 501(c)(3) at the time of applying for tax exemption. Because it never had an organizing document that meets the requirements of section 501(c)(3), and because it misrepresented that fact in its Form 1023-EZ, the revocation is effective as of the date of exemption, August 18, 20XX.

Using the rationale that was developed in Revenue Ruling 59-95, the Organization's failure to provide requested information should result in the termination of exempt status.

Conclusion

Based on the foregoing reasons, it is the IRS's position that the organization failed to establish that it meets the organizational test as required IRC §§ 501(c)(3) for it to be exempt from federal income tax under IRC § 501(c)(3). Accordingly, the organization's exempt status is revoked effective August 18, 20XX

Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, should be filed for the tax periods after August 18, 20XX.