IRS revokes exemption of largely inactive credit-counseling charity

Plain-English summary

The IRS revoked the § 501(c)(3) exemption of an organization formed to provide financial education, credit counseling, debt management, and debt settlement services. The examination found very little charitable activity, few books and records, no separate bank account, minimal public support, and continuing debt-management agreements after the organization said it had stopped that work. The founder spent most of his time on related for-profit businesses, some with overlapping officers, facilities, names, and referral relationships. The IRS concluded that the organization had not shown that it operated exclusively for exempt purposes or served a public rather than private interest. It revoked exemption retroactively to the first day of a redacted year, and the organization agreed by signing Form 6018-A.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Did the organization continue to operate primarily for charitable and educational purposes with adequate records and public support?
• Outcome: Revocation
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 501(c)(3), 6033, and 7428; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1 and 1.6033-2(h)(2)

Full text (IRS public release)

UIL 501.03-00

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
1100 Commerce Street

MS:4920:DAL
Dallas, TX 75242

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION
September 22, 2009
Release Number: 201449001
Release Date: 12/5/2014 Person to Contact:
Identification Number:
Contact Telephone Number:
In Reply Refer to:
EIN:

LAST DATE FOR FILING A PETITION WITH THE
TAX COURT, THE CLAIMS COURT, OR THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: December 21, 2009

CERTIFIED MAIL — RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Dear

This is a Final Adverse Determination as to your exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

Our adverse determination was made for the following reasons:

Exemption from income tax is a matter of legislative grace and taxpayers have the burden of
establishing their entitlement to exemption. You have not demonstrated that you are operated
exclusively for charitable, educational, or other exempt purposes within the meaning of IRC
section 501(c)(3). In addition, you have maintained very few books and records. Section 6033
of the IRC requires organizations exempt from tax to keep such records and render such
statements as are required by such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. Treasury
Regulations section 1.6033-2 (h)(2) requires organizations exempt from tax to submit such
additional information as may be required by the Internal Revenue Service for the purpose of

inquiring into the organization’s exempt status.

Based upon the above, we are revoking your organization's exemption from Federal income tax
under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code retroactively to January 1, 20XX You have
agreed to this determination by signing Form 6018-A on August 17, 20XX.

Contributions to your organization are no longer deductible under section 170 of the Internal
Revenue Code.

UIL 501.03-00

-2-

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.

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 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 or writing to:

Internal Revenue Service
Office of Taxpayer Advocate

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,

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

Sincerely yours,

Sunita Lough
Director, EO Examinations

UIL 501.03-00

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
TE/GE - EO DIVISION, MDP 13
801 BROADWAY, ROOM 397
NASHVILLE, TN 37203-3816

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

July 10, 2009

Taxpayer Identification Number:

Form:
990
Tax Year(s) Ended:
December 31, 20XX
Person to Contact/ID Number:

Contact Numbers:
Telephone:
Fax:

Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested

Dear

We have enclosed a copy of the report of our findings explaining why we believe
revocation of your exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
(Code) 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 34809F

UIL 501.03-00

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 Code 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 Code.

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.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Sunita B Lough
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 892
Publication 3498
Report of Examination
Form 6018-A

Letter 3618 (04-2002)
Catalog Number 34809F

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
December 31, 20XX
July 10, 20XX
THE ISSUES
1) Whether [illegible] is actively engaged primarily in activities that
accomplish its exempt purpose?
2) Whether [illegible] operated exclusively for exempt purposes within the

Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)?

THE FACTS

[illegible], henceforth “the organization” received income tax exemption as
described in IRC 501(c)(3) on January 30, 20XX. The books and records of the organization
for the period ending December 31, 20XX were examined on October 15, 20XX The
organization also failed to file Form 990 return for the period ending December 31, 20XX
until our examination. With the exception of its organizing documents, the organization has
carried on very little of its exempt purpose activities, and therefore has generated little or
no books and records to demonstrate its ability to carry on its exempt purpose activities.

At the time of our field examination in 20XX, the organization had no bank account of its
own, or any other financial record to meet its public support test. [illegible], the
founder of the organization was the only officer during the audit who also manages

[illegible], a for-profit company. Per interview with the founder, he stated
that he spends about 25 hours each month running the affairs of the organization; the bulk
of his time is spent running the for-profit company because as he put it “it is the company
that pays the bills”. In its Form 990-EZ return for the year ending December 31, 20XX
secured during the field examination, the organization reported $[illegible] in total revenue,
and $[illegible] in total expense. Essentially the organization has carried out very little of its
exempt purpose activities and/or has been inactive since it was granted tax exemption as
exemplified by lack records for these activities.

Background

[illegible] was first incorporated under the laws of the State of [illegible] as a non-
stock, nonprofit corporation on February 07, 20XX; on January 17, 20XX dissolution of the
organization was filed with the State of [illegible], and reincorporated in the State of
[illegible] under the same name on December 28, 20XX apparently before the dissolution
with State of [illegible] was filed and completed. The Internal Revenue Service went through
a lengthy Form 1023 application process and sent at least eight letters requesting additional

information from organization in order to clarify several operational, employee/officer
l

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items

Year/Period Ended
20XX
December 31,

Name of Taxpayer

compensation as well as activity issues in its application for exemption, and often the
organization’s responses were either incomplete or inadequate resulting in additional
correspondence between the IRS and organization. For example, in IRS Letter 1312 dated
June 14,20XX, the organization was asked to provide a copy of its typical DMP customer
contract, customer referral agreement to other organizations in some of the questions; in its
response received on July 25, 20XX the organization stated “When our 501c3 application
was initially submitted, we had aspirations of becoming a debt management, settlement,
and counseling services organization. Since that time, our organization has changed its
mission by deleting those services and reorganizing as a strictly, financial education
organization”. In another IRS Letter 2382 dated December 12,20XX item number 5 states
“The website still refers to the organization as ‘financial literacy, credit counseling and
debt management firm’. The organization will need to remove the activities the
organization is not conducting. Please provide copies of the corrected web pages.” Item
number six of the same letter states “also when conducting a search on the Internet for the
organization...the organization is listed as a debt settlement and management organization
and debt counseling organization. If the organization is not involved in debt management
and counseling services, provide an explanation as to why the organization is advertized as
debt management organization. The organization will need to remove this activity if it is
not involved in debt management and provide documentation that it is no longer
conducting the activities”.

In a Determination Letter dated January 30, 20XX, [illegible] was determined to be
exempt from federal income tax as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3). At
the time of its application for federal income tax exemption, [illegible] was located
[illegible]; at the time of our initial contact for our field examination, the organization was
located at [illegible]; by the date of our field examination, the organization had moved to
[illegible]. Research of the organization by the examiner on the website of the Secretary of
State, State of [illegible] shows current status as
“ADMINISTRATIVELY DISSOLVED,” with Certification of Administrative Dissolution
dated August 22, 20XX; nearly two months before our field examination.

[illegible] was founded by [illegible], who is also the founder and President of
[illegible], a for-profit company. In its response letter received on
July 25, 20XX to item number 9, the organization stated “we refer and receive referral
clients from the following agencies, these agencies/organizations are selected by continuous
referral business to our organization. Referral activity is on a non-contractual basis” the
officer listed [illegible] founded by [illegible], [illegible] founded by [illegible] among
others, both officers are also listed as board members of [illegible]

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items

Year/Period Ended

December 31, 20XX

Name of Taxpayer

under examination. The President is also a founding member of
[illegible], a marketing name of a collaboration of seven for-profit business formed
together to increase their marketability and profitability.

Activity Description

In SECTION 0 of its By-Laws, the organization described its exempt purpose as follows:

[illegible] is organized for charitable and educational purposes under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, more specifically to provide relief of the distressed by
providing affordable credit counseling, debt management and debt settlement services and to
educate the public at large, particularly in the [illegible] and surrounding areas, about credit-
related issues via financial literacy seminars”

In PART IV, Narrative Description of your Activities of Form 1023 Application for exemption,
the organization provided the following summary of its activities:

Past Activities:

“From February 20XX through June 20XX, we aggressively sought to educate the public about
credit-related issues by promoting our tree financial literacy seminars held at local public
libraries in [illegible] on a rotating basis. These seminars further our exempt purposes by
providing free consumer credit education to those who would not otherwise have such.
[illegible] has earned the title of “[illegible]” for more than a decade, according to
Fortune Magazine and SMR Research Corp., a Hackettstown, N.J. based business research firm
that studies loan markets and lenders. The total personal bankruptcy filing rate of the
[illegible] was [illegible] per [illegible] adults — almost [illegible] times the national rate. [illegible] was
birthed to fill a deep-seeded void in [illegible] and surrounding areas — a reliable, dedicated,
affordable, knowledgeable, non-predatory source of personal financial management. After
serving the community for several years, the management team has discovered that many people
have great financial woes and simply do not know where to turn. Unfortunately, these people
find themselves facing foreclosures, bankruptcies, and declined credit application. Therefore,
[illegible] sponsors free financial literacy seminars to individual consumers and
community organizations, educating clients on the essentials of smart financial planning and
providing all individuals with a better understanding about the proper use of credit.....”

Present Activities:

“Currently, [illegible] is meeting the increasing demand for credit counseling and debt
management. [illegible] offers confidential credit management education, debt

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

Page: --

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

December 31, 20XX

counseling, debt settlement and debt management services to consumers nationwide with a
primary focus in the [illegible] area, The majority our clients are heavy laden with
debt and simply need some relief from their distress and a glimpse of hope.
[illegible] management team works diligently to assist clients for the most affordable rate available. For
those who have the resources, we are able to also negotiate debt with our

[illegible], reducing the debt by up to [illegible] % of the original amount owned. Doing so provides our
clients with additional peace of mind from credit calls demanding payment

In addition, we are continuing our efforts to educate the community about consumer credit via
our financial literacy seminars. Because of our limited funding, we are unable to adequately
market our services through the local media. Therefore, we are seeking other alternatives to
increase public awareness about [illegible] and its services. However, we are witnessing
increased interest in our debt management plan and debt settlement services via word-of-mouth
publicity. Thus, we are spending 99 % of our time providing credit counseling, debt management
and debt settlement services. Though we are pleased with the increased interest in these services,
we realize the importance of marketing and presenting our financial literacy seminars. This is
particularly important, as our goal is to differentiate ourselves by requiring all clients seeking
credit and debt counseling services to first go through financial and credit education classes
provided by [illegible] at no cost to the client.

Also, as a provider of a personal financial management instructional course, we are petitioning
approval from the Executive Office for United States Trustees to be placed on their list of
providers for those considering bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Reform Law. Such approval as
a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency is being requested as well”.

During the year ended December 31, 20XX - the year under examination the organization had
very little activity at the time of the examination. The founder stated that the organization has
provided few financial education and literacy programs to the community at large in the area of
home buying, money management, credit building, investment 101 lectures etc at no cost
to the participants to help the community make informed decision on financial matters. Asked
what was the primary source of financial support for the organization the officer stated that he
contributes funds as well as solicit donations from participants at the end of their workshop
sessions. The organization provided little or no records of it activities, the organization had no
bank account, bank statements records, it provided a list of about 35 signed-in participants for the
year 20XX. During the examination interview, the officer was asked how many hours does he
spend running exempt organization since he is also involved with

[illegible] for-profit companies, the officer stated that he spends about 25
hours a month on the exempt activities mostly responding to online enquiries and contacting
people looking for information through the website: [illegible]; the organization has

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit

Explanation of Items

Year/Period Ended
4, 20XX

Name of Taxpayer
December 3

essentially become web-based.

As previously stated, the organization provided very little records of its activities, the
Organization has no employees, only volunteers; it provided two one-page Board meeting
minutes one on February 07, 20XX and the other on September 05, 20XX. No public support
contributions, education and outreach, revenue or expenditure, bank statement records were
provided by the organization. Upon subsequent discussion and request, the organization
provided three records of DMP agreements with three clients, two of these were entered
into in 20XX, and one in January of 20XX which shows the organization did not totally
stop DMP activities in 20XX as previously indicated.

The LAW

Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that an organization described in section
501(c)(3) is exempt from income tax. Section 501(c)(3) of the Code exempts from federal
income tax corporations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and other
purposes, provided that no part of the net earnings inure to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual. The term charitable includes relief of the poor and distressed. Section 1.501(c)
(3)-1(d) (2), Income Tax Regulations.

The term educational includes (a) instruction or training of the individual for the purpose of
improving or developing his capabilities and (b) instruction of the public on subjects useful to the
individual and beneficial to the community, Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3). In other words,
the two components of education are public education and individual training.

Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) of the regulations provides 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.

Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) of the regulations provides that an organization will be regarded as
“operated exclusively” for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages primarily in activities
that accomplish one or more of such exempt purposes specified in 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. The existence of a substantial nonexempt purpose, regardless
of the number or importance of exempt purposes, will cause failure of the operational test. Better
Business Bureau of Washington, D.C. v. U.S., 326 U.S. 279 (1945).

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit

Explanation of Items

Year/Period Ended

20XX
December 31,

Name of Taxpayer

Educational purposes include instruction or training of the individual for the purpose of
improving or developing his capabilities and instruction of the public on useful and beneficial
subjects. Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3). In Better Business Bureau of Washington D.C.,
Inc. v. United States, 326 U.S. 279 (1945), the Supreme Court held that the presence of a single
non-exempt purposes, if substantial in nature, will destroy the exemption regardless of the
number or importance of truly exempt purposes. The Court found that the trade association had
an “underlying commercial motive” that distinguished its educational program from that carried
out by a university.

An organization must establish that it serves a public rather than a private interest and “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.” Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii). Prohibited private
interests include those of unrelated third parties as well as insiders. Christian Stewardship

Assistance, Inc., v. Commissioner, 70 T.C. 1037 (1978); American Campaign Academy v.
Commissioner, 92 T.C. 1053 (1989). Private benefits include an “advantage; profit; fruit;

privilege; gain; [or] interest.” Retired Teachers Legal Fund v. Commissioner, 78 T.C. 280, 286
(1982).

Rev. Rul. 69-441, 1969-2 C.B. 115, granted 501(c)(3) status to an organization with two
functions: it educated the public on personal money management, using films, speakers, and
publications, and provided individual counseling to “low-income individuals and families.” As
part of its counseling, it established budget plans, i.e., debt management plans, for some of its
clients. The debt management services were provided without charge. The organization was
supported by contributions primarily from creditors. By virtue of aiding low income people,
without charge, as well as providing education to the public, the organization qualified for
section 501 (c)(3) status.

In the case of Solutions Plus, Inc. vs Commissioner of Internal Revenue (T. C. Memo 2008-21),
on February 5, 2008, the tax court overwhelmingly supported the Internal Revenue Service in
finding that the credit counseling organization was not a 501(c)(3) charitable or educational
organization. The organization stated its intent to offer and service DMP’s on a national scale.
The organization’s intended goal was to solicit potential clients for DMP’s. There would be no
other assistance provided to clients who did not qualify for DMP’s. The court failed to find a
meaningful education program or educational materials that the organization might send to
prospective clients. It found that the organization’s plans to provide seminars and workshops to
high school students on sound financial management skills were an insignificant part of its
overall activities. It held that the organization’s activities were primarily structured to market,

determine eligibility for, and enroll individuals in DMP’s. The court concluded that the sale of
6

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items

Year/ Period Ended
20XX
December 31,

Name of Taxpayer

DMP’s was the organization’s primary reason for existence, and its charitable and educational
purposes were, at best, minimal. It held that the organization did not qualify for tax-exempt
status under section 501(c)(3).

Outside the context of credit counseling, individual counseling has, in a number of instances,
been held to be a tax-exempt charitable activity. Rev. Rul. 78-99, 1978-1 C.B. 152 (free
individual and group counseling of widows); Rev. Rul. 76-205, 1976-1 C.B. 154 (free
counseling and English instruction for immigrants); Rev. Rul. 73-569, 1973-2 C.B. 179 (free
counseling to pregnant women); Rev. Rul. 70-590, 1970-2 C.B. 116 (clinic to help users of
mind-altering drugs); Rev. Rul. 70-640, 1970-2 C.B. 117 (free marriage counseling); Rev. Rul.
68-71, 1968-1 C.B.249 (career planning education through free vocational counseling and
publications sold at a nominal charge). Overwhelmingly, the counseling activities described in
these rulings were provided free, and the organizations were supported by contributions from
the public.

The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), 15 U.S.C. § 1679 et seq., effective April 1, 1997,
imposes restrictions on credit repair organizations, including forbidding the making of untrue or
misleading statements and forbidding advance payment, before services are fully performed. 15
U.S.C. § 1679b. Significantly, section 501(c)(3) organizations are excluded from regulation
under the CROA.

The CROA defines a credit repair organization as:

(A) any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails to
sell, provide, or perform (or represent that such person can or will sell, provide, or
perform) any service, in return for the payment of money or other valuable
consideration, for the express or implied purpose of—

(i) improving any consumer’s credit record, credit history, or credit rating, or

(ii) providing advice or assistance to any consumer with regard to any activity or
service described in clause (i).

15 U.S.C. § 1679a(3). The courts have interpreted this definition broadly to apply to credit
counseling agencies. The Federal Trade Commission’s policy is that if an entity communicates
with consumers in any way about the consumers’ credit situation, it is providing a service
covered by the CROA. In Re National Credit Management Group, LLC, 21 F. Supp. 2d 424, 458
(N.D.N.J. 1998).

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit

Explanation of Items

Year/Period Ended

20XX
December 31,

Name of Taxpayer

Businesses are prohibited from cold-calling consumers who have put their phone numbers on the
National Do-Not-Call Registry, which is maintained by the Federal Trade Commission. 16
C.F.R. § 310.4(b)(1)(iii)(B); 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(2). Section 501(c)(3) organizations are not
subject to this rule against cold-calling. Because 501(c)(3) organizations are exempt from
regulation under the CROA and the cold-calling restrictions, organizations that are involved in
credit repair have added incentives to be recognized as section 501(c)(3) organizations even if
they do not intend to operate primarily for exempt purposes.

GOVERNMENT’S POSITION

In order to qualify for exemption under section 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized
and operated to achieve a purpose that is described under that Code section. [illegible] has
not demonstrated its ability to operate as public charity organization by its inactivity, failure to
devote the necessary time to solicit public support in order to raise funds to carry out the public
charity activities for which it was granted tax exempt status. Though the examination uncovered
no evidence of private inurement from the little record provided by the organization, it is clear
that the founder of the organization spends the bulk of his time managing his for-profit
companies, and has little or no time to manage the organization or recruit someone to do so in
order to grow the exempt organization. The operation of exempt organization with for-profit
company with essentially identical names, by the same officers, in the same office facility, use of
the same equipments under the similar trade or business raises very serious concern and gives the
appearance of private benefit as it is very easy to commingle books and records, clients,
revenues, expenditure etc, and very difficult to tell where exempt organization ends and for-profit
company begins. Since the organization stopped its DMP activities in 20XX available records
including the Past and Present activities listed above show that [illegible] has not really
been able to carry out any meaningful exempt purpose activity.

TAXPAYER POSITION
The position of [illegible] with respect to the issues, facts, applicable law and

government’s position as discussed in this report is unknown at this time.
[illegible] will be allowed 30 days to review this report and respond.

CONCLUSION

[illegible] has not demonstrated its ability to operate exclusively for exempt purposes,
because of its continued inactivity, inability to invest the necessary time and resources to solicit
public support to firmly establish the organization in the community, In B.S.W. Group, Inc. v.
Commissioner, 70 T.C. 352 (1978) (citing lack of solicitation of contributions and sole support
from fees as factors disfavoring exemption); Federation Pharmacy Services, 625 F.2d at 807 (the
8

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
20XX

December 31, :

absence of contributions or of a plan to solicit contributions, which are characteristic of a
charitable institution, militated against the finding of tax-exempt status). It is clear that the
organization failed both its operational and public support tests as demonstrated by this
examination and should be revoked effective January 01, 20XX.

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68)

Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

Page: -