IRS revokes a section 501(c)(4) organization's exemption for nonresponse

Plain-English summary

The IRS revoked a section 501(c)(4) organization's exemption after it failed to respond to repeated requests for records and failed to file required Forms 990 for a tax period ending June 30 of a redacted year. The report states that the organization was part of a gaming project and made no good-faith effort to come into compliance. The IRS concluded that the organization failed the reporting requirements under sections 6001 and 6033 and required Form 1120 returns for the affected and later periods. The revocation was made effective July 1 of the redacted year.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Did the organization continue to qualify for section 501(c)(4) exemption after failing to provide records and file Forms 990?
• Outcome: Revocation
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 11, 501(a), 501(c)(4), 511, 6001, and 6033; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.6001-1(a), 1.6001-1(c), 1.6001-1(e), and 1.6033-1(h)(2); Rev. Rul. 59-95, 1959-1 C.B. 627

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

April 2, 2008

Taxpayer Identification Number:
Release Number : 201323026

Release Date: 6/7/2013 Form:
ORG
ADDRESS Tax Year(s) Ended:

UIL Code: 501.04-00
Person to Contact/ID Number:

Contact Numbers:
Telephone:
Fax:

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Dear

We have enclosed a copy of our report of examination explaining why we believe an
adjustment of your organization's exempt status is necessary.

If you do not agree with our position you may appeal your case. The enclosed
Publication 3498, The Examination Process, explains 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.

If you request a conference, we will forward your written statement of protest to the
Appeals Office and they will contact you. For your convenience, an envelope is
enclosed.

If you and Appeals do not agree on some or all of the issues after your Appeals
conference, or if you do not request an Appeals conference, you may file suit in United
States Tax Court, the United States Court of Federal Claims, or United States District
Court, after satisfying procedural and jurisdictional requirements as described in
Publication 3498.

Letter 3610 (04-2002)
Catalog Number 34801V

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

If you accept our findings, please sign and return the enclosed Form 6018, Consent to
Proposed Adverse Action. We will then send you a final letter modifying or revoking
exempt status. If we do not hear from you within 30 days from the date of this letter, we
will process your case on the basis of the recommendations shown in the report of
examination and this letter will become final. In that event, you will be required to file
Federal income tax returns for the tax period(s) shown above. File these returns with
the Ogden Service Center within 60 days from the date of this letter, unless a request
for an extension of time is granted. File returns for later tax years with the appropriate
service center indicated in the instructions for those returns.

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.

Letter 3610 (04-2002)
Catalog Number 34801 V

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Vicki L Hansen
Acting Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 892
Publication 3498
Form 6018

Report of Examination
Envelope

Letter 3610 (04-2002)
Catalog Number 34801V

Form 886-A Schedule number or exhibit

(Rev. January 1994) EXPLANATIONS OF ITEMS

Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number | Year/Period ended
ORG EIN June 30, 20XX

LEGEND
ORG = Organization name XX = Date EIN = EIN

Issue:

Whether ORG qualifies for exemption under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code.

Facts:

Exhibit A provides copies of the Internal Revenue Service correspondence
requesting that Exempt Organization file the Form 990s. The organization belongs to
project code 8119 gaming project. The organization has been totally non responsive.
They are still not in compliance and have not made any good faith efforts to begin to
come into compliance. A 30 day letter (intent to revoke ) was sent after continuous
efforts to try to bring them into compliance. There was no response to agents letter.
Under section 6033(a) agent is proposing revocation for non response to request for
compliance. Exempt Organization failed to respond to the Internal Revenue Service
correspondence or file the Forms 990 for the tax period ending June 30, 20XX

Law:

IRC § 6001 provides that every person liable for any tax imposed by the IRC, or for the
collection thereof, shall keep adequate records as the Secretary of the Treasury or his

delegate may from time to time prescribe.

IRC § 6033(a)(1) provides, except as provided in IRC § 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.

Treas. Reg. § 1.6001-1(a) in conjunction with Treas. Reg. § 1.6001-1(c) provides that
every organization exempt from tax under IRC § 501(a) and subject to the tax imposed
by IRC § 511 on its unrelated business income must keep such permanent books or
accounts or records, including inventories, as are sufficient to establish the amount of
gross income, deduction, credits, or other matters required to be shown by such person
in any return of such tax. Such organization shall also keep such books and records as
are required to substantiate the information required by IRC § 6033.

Treas. Reg. § 1.6001-1(e) states that the books or records required by this section shall
be kept at all times available for inspection by authorized internal revenue officers or

Form 886-A (1-1994) Catalog Number 20810W Page publish.no.irs.gov Department of the Treasury-Internal Revenue Service

a Form 886-A Schedule number or exhibit
(Rev. January 1994) EXPLANATIONS OF ITEMS
Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number | Year/Period ended
ORG EIN June 30, 20XX

employees, and shall be retained as long as the contents thereof may be material in the
administration of any internal revenue law.

Treas. Reg § 1.6033-1(h)(2) 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 IRC § 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 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.

In accordance with the above-cited 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: It is the IRS's position that 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)(4). Accordingly, the organization's exempt status is
revoked effective July 1, 20XX

Form 1120 returns should be filed for the tax periods ending on or after June 30
20XX and all subsequent years.

Form 886-A (1-1994) Catalog Number 20810W Page publish.no.irs.gov Department of the Treasury-Internal Revenue Service