IRS determination 200817062: Missing returns and records lead to exemption revocation

Plain-English summary

The IRS revoked an organization's § 501(c)(3) exemption after it failed to respond to requests for Forms 990 and other information. The attached examination report says the organization did not file returns for several redacted tax periods, leaving the IRS without records to determine whether it still operated for an exempt purpose. The IRS relied on the filing and recordkeeping duties in §§ 6001 and 6033. The final letter made the revocation and loss of contribution deductibility effective January 1 of a redacted year and directed the organization to file Form 1120 annually.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Did the organization show that it still qualified for § 501(c)(3) exemption despite missing returns and records?
• Outcome: Revocation of exemption, effective January 1 of a redacted year.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 501(c)(3), 6001, 6033; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1), 1.6001-1, 1.6033-1(h)(2).

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
1100 Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75242

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

Number: 200817062
Release Date: 4/25/2008
Date: January 22, 2008

UIL:501.03-01

LEGEND

ORG = Organization name XX = Date Address = address

ORG Person to Contact:

ADDRESS Badge Number:
Contact Telephone Number:
Contact Address:

Last Date for Filing Petition:

CERTIFIED MAIL and RETURN RECEIPT
Dear

This is a final revocation letter as to your exempt status under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Recognition of your exemption under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c) (3) is revoked beginning January 1, 20XX for the following reason(s):

You have not been operated exclusively for an exempt purpose as required by Internal Revenue Code section 501(c) (3). You have not demonstrated that you primarily engage in activities which accomplish one or more of such exempt purposes specified in section 501(c)(3) as required by Treas. Reg. section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1).

Contributions to your organization are no longer deductible effective January 1, 20XX.

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 Claims Court, or the district court of the United States for the District of Columbia before the (ninety- first) 91st day after the date that this determination was mailed to you. Contact the clerk of the appropriate court for rules for initiating suits for declaratory judgment by referring to the enclosed Publication 892. You may write to the United States Tax Court at the following address: United States Tax Court 400 Second Street, NW Washington, DC 20217

2

You also have the right to contact the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. However, you should first contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown above since this person can access you tax information and can help you get answers. You can call 1-877-777-4778, and ask for the Taxpayer Advocate assistance or you can contact the Advocate from the site where this issue was determined by writing to:

Taxpayer Advocate assistance cannot 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.

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

As a result of this revocation of tax-exempt status, your organization is required to file Form 1120 annually with the appropriate Campus identified in the instructions.

This letter is a final revocation letter and should be kept within your permanent records.

If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown above.

Sincerely,

Marsha Ramirez
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 892

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Mail Stop 1112, PO Box 12307
Ogden, UT 84412

TAX EXEMPT AND

GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION
LEGEND
ORG = Organization name XX = Date Address = address
ORG DATE OF THIS NOTICE:
ADDRESS

CONTACT PERSON/ID NUMBER:

CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:

Toll Free
Long Distance

Fax

Employer Identification Number:
Tax Period(s):
Form(s):

Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested
Dear

We have enclosed a copy of our report of examination explaining why we believe revocation of your exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) is necessary.

If you accept our findings, take no further action. We will issue a final revocation letter.

If you do not agree with our proposed revocation, you must submit to us a written request for Appeals Office consideration within 30 days from the date of this letter to protest our decision. Your protest should include a statement of the facts, the applicable law, and arguments in support of your position.

An appeals officer will review your case. The Appeals Office is independent of the Director, EO Examinations. The Appeals Office resolves most disputes informally and promptly. The enclosed Publication 3498, The Examination Process, and Publication 892, Exempt Organizations Appeal Procedures for Unagreed Issues, explain how to appeal an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) decision. Publication 3498 also includes information on your rights as a taxpayer and the IRS collection process.

You may also request that we refer this matter for technical advice as explained in Publication 892. If we issue a determination letter to you based on technical advice, no further administrative appeal is available to you within the IRS regarding the issue that was the subject of the technical advice.

If we do not hear from you within 30 days from the date of this letter, we will process your case based on the recommendations shown in the report of examination. If you do not protest this proposed determination within 30 days from the date of this letter, the IRS will consider it to be a failure to exhaust your available administrative remedies. Section 7428(b)(2) of the IRC provides, in part “A declaratory judgment or decree under this section shall not be issued in any proceeding unless the Tax Court, the Claims Court, or the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia determines that the organization involved has exhausted its administrative remedies within the Internal Revenue Service.” We will then issue a final revocation letter. We will also notify the appropriate state officials of the revocation in accordance with section 6104(c) of the IRC.

You have the right to contact the office of the Taxpayer Advocate. Taxpayer Advocate assistance is not a substitute for established IRS procedures, such as the formal appeals process. The Taxpayer Advocate cannot reverse a legally correct tax determination, or extend the time fixed by law that you have to file a petition in a United States 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 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:

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.

Sincerely,

Marsha A. Ramirez
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:

Publication 892

Publication 3498

Form 886A, Report of Examination

Letter 3618 (04-2002)
Catalog Number 34809ZF

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Explanation of Items Exhibit Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended ORG 20XX thru 20XX LEGEND ORG = Organization name XX = Date

Date of Notice: May 21, 20XX
Issues:

Whether ORG qualifies for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Facts:

Attached Exhibit 1 provides documentation of the Internal Revenue Service correspondence and telephone contact requesting that ORG file the Form 990 for the tax period ending December 31, 20XX though

December 31, 20XX . ORG failed to respond to the Internal Revenue Service request(s) or file the Forms 990 for the tax period ending December 31, 20XX through December 31, 20XX.

Law:

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 6001 Notice or regulations requiring records, statements, and special returns

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. The only records which an employer shall be required to keep under this section in connection with charged tips shall be charge receipts, records necessary to comply with section 6053 (c), and copies of statements furnished by employees under section 6053 (a).

IRC § 6033(a)(1) Returns by exempt organizations

(a) Organizations required to file (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), every organization exempt from taxation 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 purpose of carrying out the internal revenue laws as the Secretary may by forms or regulations prescribe, and shall 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; except that, in the discretion of the Secretary, any organization described in section 401 (a) may

Form 886-A (Rev.4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Page: -1-

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Explanation of Items Exhibit Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended ORG 20XX thru 20XX LEGEND ORG = Organization name XX = Date

be relieved from stating in its return any information which is reported in returns filed by the employer which established such organization. Federal Tax Regulation § 1.6001-1(a)

In general. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, any person subject to tax under subtitle A of the Code (including a qualified State individual income tax which is treated pursuant to section 6361(a) as if it were imposed by chapter 1 of subtitle A), or any person required to file a return of information with respect to income, shall keep such permanent books of account or records, including inventories, as are sufficient to establish the amount of gross income, deductions, credits, or other matters required to be shown by such person in any return of such tax or information.

Federal Tax Regulation § 1.6001-1(e)

Retention of records. The books or records required by this section shall be kept at all times available for inspection by authorized internal revenue officers or employees, and shall be retained so long as the contents thereof may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law.

Federal Tax Regulation § 1.6033-1(h)(2) (2)

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 following), chapter 1 of the Code, and of section 6033. See section 6001 and § 1.6001-1 with respect to the authority of the district director or directors of service centers to require such additional information and with respect to the permanent books of account or records to be kept by such organizations.

Rev. Rul. 59-95, 1959-1 C.B. 627,

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 IRC § 6033 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.

Form 886-A (Rev.4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Page: -2-

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Explanation of Items Exhibit Name of Taxpayer Year/ Period Ended ORG 20XX thru 20XX LEGEND ORG = Organization name XX = Date Analysis:

Based on the above provisions of the Code and regulations under IRC §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.

Conclusion:

That as of May 21, 20XX the organization failed to meet the reporting requirements under IRC §6001 and §6033 to be recognized as exempt from federal income tax under IRC §501(c)(3). Accordingly, the organization's exempt status is revoked effective January 1, 20XX. In addition Form 1120 returns should be filed for the tax periods ending on or after December 31 20XX .

Form 886-A (Rev.4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Page: -3-