IRS revokes a charity's section 501(c)(3) exemption for lack of charitable activity

Plain-English summary

The IRS revoked an organization's exemption under IRC § 501(c)(3), effective September 21 of the specified year. The organization had not conducted activities related to its stated charitable purpose, had no assets or bank account, and had not filed the required information returns. Its website presented the organization together with a related for-profit entity and solicited charitable contributions. The IRS concluded that the organization did not satisfy the operational requirements for exemption and that its exemption should be revoked.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Did the organization continue to qualify for exemption under IRC § 501(c)(3)?
• Outcome: Revocation of the organization's section 501(c)(3) exemption, effective September 21 of the specified year.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 501, 6001, 6033, and 7428; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1, 1.6001-1, and 1.6033-1.

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
1100 Commerce Street 501-03.00

Dallas, TX 75242

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES Date: May 22, 2013
DIVISION

Release Number: 201335015
Release Date: 8/30/2013

LEGEND Person to Contact:

ORG - Organization name Badge Number:

XX - Date Address - address Contact Telephone Number:
Contact Address:

Employer Identification Number:

CERTIFIED MAIL
Dear

This is a final notice of adverse determination that your exempt status under section
501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code is revoked. Recognition of your exemption under
Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) is revoked effective September 21, 20XX for the
following reason(s):

You are not operated exclusively for an exempt purpose as required by Internal Revenue Code
section 501(c)(3). You are not and have not been engaged primarily in activities which
accomplish one or more exempt purposes. You are not a charitable organization within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.501(c)(3)-1(d); rather, your activities further a substantial
nonexempt commercial purpose and serve private rather than public interests.

Because you did not protest the proposed modification of your non-private foundation status and
have indicated your agreement by signing the Form 6018-A on January 23, 20XX, it is further
determined that you have not exhausted your available remedies for purposes of declaratory
judgment under section 7428 of the Code.

Contributions to your organization are no longer deductible.

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 the tax
years thereafter in accordance with instructions of the return.

It is further determined that your failure to file a written appeal constitutes a failure to exhaust
your available administrative remedies. However, 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.

To secure a petition form, write to the following address: United States Tax Court, 400 Second
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20217.

Please understand that filing a petition for a declaratory judgment under IRC section 7428 will
not delay the processing of subsequent income tax returns and assessment of any taxes due.

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 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.

This letter 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,

Nanette M. Downing
Director, EO Examinations
Enclosures:
Publication 892

Department of the Treasury Date:
Internal Revenue Service December 5, 2012

Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division Taxpayer Identification Number:
985 Michigan Avenue, 10th Floor
Detroit, MI 48226

Form:

Tax year(s) ended:

ORG
ADDRESS Person to contact / ID number:

Contact numbers:
Manager's name / ID number:

Manager's contact number:

Response due date:

Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested
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

Letter 3618 (Rev. 6-2012)
Catalog Number 34809F

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,

Nanette M. Downing
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:

Report of Examination
Form 6018
Publication 892
Publication 3498

Letter 3618 (Rev. 6-2012)
Catalog Number 34809F

Form 886-A Schedule number or exhibit
(Rev. January 1994) EXPLANATIONS OF ITEMS

Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number | Year/Period ended

ORG EIN December 31, 20XX
LEGEND

ORG - Organization name XX - Date EIN - ein State - state

Founder - founder website - website CO-1 & CO-2

Issue:

Whether the ORG continues to qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code.

Facts:

The organization was formed in September 20XX when Articles of Incorporation
(for Domestic Non-Profit Corporations) were filed with the State of State. The
purpose of the organization as stated in the Articles is as follows: “To provide
and distribute food, meals, nutritional drinks, nutritional puddings and health and
wellness products and services to the hungry, poor and less fortunate.”

The organization received its tax-exempt status effective 9/21/20XX under
501(c)(3), as a 509(a)(1) & 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) public charity. Founder is the
founder and listed as the sole officer of the organization. The organization has
no employees.

The organization filed their 20XX Form 990-N postcard on 5/15/20XX. The
organization has not filed any other returns since its establishment.

The organization maintains a website at website (website and website are also
web addresses to the same website). The main title on the webpage is ORG, a
related for-profit company. The entire website is directed toward the non-profit
organization, with mention of having a “for-profit division” that covers all of the
“administrative costs of the non-profit” so that “% of all donations received will
go directly to meals, food and delivery costs”. The website solicits charitable
donations from the public to “put an end to hunger on the entire planet”. The
organization accepts donations via “automatic monthly tithing”, as well cash,
check or equivalent, credit card, or other assets (such as real estate). The
website states that the organization provides the hungry with “nutrient dense
foods” from “independent nutrient dense food and nutrition providers”. Further
research completed by the Revenue Agent shows that these “independent
providers” are related entities of the ORG. The nutrient dense food is the same
product that the related entities market as a “diet product”.

The initial examination appointment was conducted with the Power of Attorney
(POA). Very little documentation was available and the POA indicated that the
organization has never been operational. It was stated that the organization had
no bank accounts or any other assets. When asked about the relationship of the

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

Form 886-A Schedule number or exhibit
(Rev. January 1994) EXPLANATIONS OF ITEMS

Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number | Year/Period ended

ORG EIN December 31, 20XX

501(c)(3) and the LLC which have the same name and share the same website,
the POA stated that he believed that they were the same entity, and was
unaware of why there were two separate entities established.

During the initial meeting, the POA had 13 original checks totaling $ that were
received by the organization from CO-1 between May 20XX and February 20XX
as charitable donations for general support. The organization also received 1
check from CO-2, totaling $ issued on 9/15/XX. These 14 checks were never
deposited or cashed and are now void based on the time passed since issued.
These 14 checks were presented as the only income ever received by ORG. ORG
had contracted with CO-2 (aka CO-1), an organization that provides assistance
to charities with fundraising via a Donate Now service through the internet, for a
monthly fee. In January 20XX, ORG cancelled its account with CO-2, requesting
that its credit card no longer be billed for the service.

A questionnaire was provided to the organization’s founder and president to
address examination questions that were unable to be answered by the POA.
Founder provided written responses that confirmed ORG had never been
operational and that the organization did not have any assets or bank accounts.
The responses to the questionnaire stated that ORG has not conducted any
activities relating to its exempt purpose, is not soliciting contributions, and is not
receiving contributions. In response to a question regarding the relationship
between the organization and the LLC, since they are portrayed as the same
entity via the website, Founder stated that neither entity is operational, and that
the LLC was going to be used to supply food for the foundation.

Law:

Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) of the Federal Tax Regulations (regulations) provides

that in order to be exempt as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, (IRC) the organization must be one that is both organized
and operated exclusively for one or more purposes specified in that section. If an

organization fails to meet either the organizational or operational test, it does not

meet the requirements for tax exemption.

Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c) of the regulations specifies that with regard to the primary
activities within the operational test, 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 IRC
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.

Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) of the regulations provides that an organization will not
be regarded as operated exclusively for exempt purposes if more than an

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

Form 886-A Schedule number or exhibit
(Rev. January 1994) EXPLANATIONS OF ITEMS

Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number | Year/Period ended

ORG EIN December 31, 20XX

insubstantial part of its activities is not in furtherance of exempt purposes.

Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii) of the regulations provides that an organization is
not organized or operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes unless it
serves a public rather than a private interest. Thus, it is necessary for an
organization to establish that it is not organized or operated for the benefit of
private interests such as designated individuals, the creator or his family,
shareholders of the organization, or persons controlled, directly or indirectly, by
such private interests.

Treasury Regulation § 1.6001-1(e) states that the books and 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 as long as the contents thereof
may be material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law.

Section 1.6001-1(c) of the regulations requires that an exempt organization must
maintain records sufficient to demonstrate that it is entitled to tax exempt status.

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.

Regulation § 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
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 Internal Revenue Code and IRC § 6033.

Section 1.6033-2(h)(2) of the regulations holds that an organization which is
exempt from tax, whether or nor it is required to file an annual information return,
shall submit such additional information as may be required by the Internal Revenue
Service for the purpose of inquiring into its exempt status.

Revenue Ruling 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

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

the organization has not established that it is observing the conditions required for
the continuation of exempt status.

Taxpayer Position:

The Organization has signed and returned form 6018, Consent to Proposed
Action - Section 7428, which signifies their agreement to the proposed
revocation.

Government Position:

The Organization does not pass the operational test as specified in section
1.501(c)(3)-1(c) of the regulations because the lack of activities is evidence that
they were not operated exclusively for one or more charitable purposes. To be
considered as operating exclusively for charitable purposes, the Organization would
have had to engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of such
exempt purposes as specified in section 501(c)(3) of the Code. An organization will
not be so regarded if more than an insubstantial part of its activities is not in
furtherance of an exempt purpose.

In addition to the lack of any charitable activity is the lack of any qualified activity
at all. The Organization has not provided evidence of conducting meetings or
events, creating and/or issuing reports, creation or distribution of publications, or
conducting any other activity in furtherance of its exempt purpose. The only
indication of any activity is the Organization’s website which solicits contributions
from the general public. Further, the organization received contributions that were
never deposited or cashed, therefore the contribution checks received became void
and the organization forfeited the donated funds.

The organization was established with the same name as a related for-profit entity,
about two months after the related for-profit was established. The exempt
organization shares a website with the related entity, which portrays the two
entities as one and the same. Since no exempt activities have been conducted,
including failing to deposit donations received, it is clear that the charitable
organization was established as a shell and the 501(c)(3) status is being exploited
by the related for-profit as a scheme to obtain funds for the for-profit while
providing a charitable tax deduction for those purchasing the products of the
related for-profit entity.

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 return (and other required

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

Form 886-A Schedule number or exhibit
(Rev. January 1994) EXPLANATIONS OF ITEMS

Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number | Year/Period ended

ORG EIN December 31, 20XX

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.

The organization has clearly failed to conduct any exempt activities since it was
established. The organization has no assets, does not maintain a bank account,
and has not provided any indications that it plans to conduct exempt activities in
the future. Additionally, the organization has 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, it is the Government's
position that the organization's exempt status should be revoked back to
inception on September 21, 20XX.

Conclusion:

The organization received exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code after providing information about their intended activities as
described in their Articles of Incorporation, however they have not provided
documents or information to substantiate that they participate in any charitable
activities according to those outlined in their initial application or those stated under
Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

It is the Internal Revenue Service's position that the organization failed to meet the
organizational and operational requirements. The organizational test concerns the
organization's articles of organization or comparable governing document. The
operational test concerns the organization's activities. A deficiency in an
organization's governing document cannot be cured by the organization's actual
operations. Likewise, an organization whose activities are not within the statute will
not qualify for exemption by virtue of a well written charter.

The IRC section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status of ORG should be revoked, effective
September 21, 20XX, because it is not operated exclusively for tax exempt
purposes pursuant to the requirements set forth in section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) of
the regulations.

If applicable, Form 1120 returns should be filed for the tax periods ending on or
after December 31, 20XX.

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