IRS determination 200822036: Organization loses exemption after failing to file and supply records

Plain-English summary

An organization recognized as exempt under § 501(c)(3) did not file a requested Form 990-PF or provide information about its receipts, spending, and activities. Its president left a message saying the organization had never started, and the organization did not respond to later IRS correspondence. The IRS concluded that it had not met the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of §§ 6001 and 6033 or established that it operated for an exempt purpose. It revoked the exemption effective July 1 of a redacted year, directed the organization to file Form 1120 for later years, and said contributions were no longer deductible under § 170.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the organization retain § 501(c)(3) status without filing its requested return or documenting its activities?
• Outcome: Exemption revoked effective July 1 of a redacted year.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 501(c)(3), 6001, and 6033; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1(d), 1.6001-1, and 1.6033-1(h)(2); Rev. Rul. 59-95.

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
TE/GE EO Examinations
1100 Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75424

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

Release Number: 200822036
Release Date: 5/30/08
Legend
ORG = Organization name
XX = Date
Address = address

February 14, 2008
Person to Contact:
Identification Number:
Contact Telephone Number:
In Reply Refer to: TE/GE Review Staff
EIN:
UIL: 501.03-01

ORG
Address

CERTIFIED MAIL — Return Receipt Requested
LAST DATE FOR FILING A PETITION

WITH THE TAX COURT: May 14, 20XX

Dear

This is a final revocation letter as to your exempt status under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Internal Revenue Service’s recognition of your organization as an organization described in section 501 (c) (3) is hereby revoked effective July 1, 20XX.

We have made this determination for the following reasons:

You have not demonstrated that you are operated exclusively for
charitable, educational, or other exempt purposes within the meaning of I.R.C. section 501(c) (3). Organizations described in I.R.C. section 501(c)(3) and exempt under section 501(a) must be organized and operated exclusively for an exempt purposes. You have provided no information regarding your receipts, expenditures or activities. You have not established that you have operated exclusively for an exempt purpose.

As such, you failed to meet the requirements of I.R.C. section 501(c)(3) and Treas. Reg. section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d) in that you failed to establish that you were operated exclusively

for an exempt purpose.

Contributions to your organization are no longer 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 June 30, 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.

-2-

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.

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 your tax information and can help you get answers.

You can call 1-877-777-4778 and ask for Taxpayer Advocate assistance. Or you can contact the Taxpayer Advocate from the site where the tax deficiency was determined by calling,

Tel: or write:

Taxpayer Advocate assistance cannot be used as a substitute for established IRS procedures, formal appeals processes, etc. The Taxpayer Advocate is not able to reverse legal or technically correct tax determinations, nor extend the time fixed by law that you have to file a petition in the United States Tax 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.

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

Marsha A. Ramirez
Director, EO Examinations

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer
Year/Period Ended
ORG
June 30, 20XX
LEGEND
ORG = Organization name XX = Date

Issues:

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

Facts:

During the examination process the organization was contacted using certified mail. The accepted the initial mailing dated 06-25-XX requesting they file the Form 990PF, Return of a Private Foundation.

president, responded with a telephone message on July 06, 20XX leaving no return telephone number to contact him back and indicating that the organization was never started. They have refused and/or not claimed further correspondence from the service dated August 01, 20XX and September 27, 20XX. ORG failed to respond to the Internal Revenue Service request(s) or file the Form 990PF for the tax period ending.

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 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

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 Exhibit Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer
Year/Period Ended
ORG
June 30, 20XX
LEGEND
ORG = Organization name XX = Date

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.

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 October 29, 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. In addition Form 1120 returns should be filed for the tax

periods ending on or after.

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

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

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

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.

Letter 3618 (04-2002)
Catalog Number 34809ZF

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.

Telephone Number ( ) Hours

Sincerely,

Marsha A. Ramirez
Director, EO Examinations
Enclosures:
Publication 892
Publication 3498
Form 886A, Report of Examination

Letter 3618 (04-2002)
Catalog Number 34809ZF