Fee-based consulting organization denied charitable exemption

Plain-English summary

An organization sought exemption as a charity under IRC § 501(c)(3). It substantially provided consulting and administrative services for fees at or above cost. The IRS found that the organization had not established an exempt purpose for that activity and had not shown that it operated for public rather than private interests. It denied exemption and stated that contributions would not be deductible under IRC § 170. The organization was required to file federal income tax returns and, if it had been a private foundation, continue filing Form 990-PF until terminating that status under IRC § 507.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Did the organization's fee-based consulting and administrative activities qualify it for exemption under IRC § 501(c)(3)?
• Outcome: Denied
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 170, 501(c)(3), 507, 7428; Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Appeals Office
2525 Capitol Street, Suite 201
Fresno, CA 93721

Department of the Treasury

Employer Identification Number:

Person to Contact:

Number: 201550044

Release Date: 12/11/2015 Employee ID Number:

Tel: ( )
Date: September 15, 2015 Fax: ( )

UIL: 0501.03-00

Certified Mail

Dear

This is a final adverse determination regarding your exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). It is determined that you do not qualify as exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Code.

Our adverse determination was made for the following reason(s):

You are not operated exclusively for exempt purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) and Treasury Regulations § 1.501(c)(3)-1(d), as you have failed to establish that your substantial activity of providing consulting and administrative services for a fee, that is at or above cost, has an exempt purpose. Also, you have failed to establish that you operate for public, rather than private interests.

Contributions to your organization are not deductible under section 170 of the Code.

You are required to file Federal income tax returns on Forms 1120. File your return with the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center per the instructions of the return. For further instructions, forms, and information please visit www.irs.gov.

If you were a private foundation as of the effective date of the adverse determination, you are considered to be a taxable private foundation until you terminate your private foundation status under section 507 of the Code. In addition to your income tax return, you must also continue to file Form 990-PF by the 15th Day of the fifth month after the end of your annual accounting period.

Processing of income tax returns and assessments of any taxes due will not be delayed should a petition for declaratory judgment be filed under section 7428 of the Code.

We will make this letter and the proposed adverse determination letter available for public inspection under Code section 6110 after deleting certain identifying information. We have provided to you, in a separate mailing, Notice 437, Notice of Intention to Disclose. Please review the Notice 437 and the documents attached that show our proposed deletions. If you disagree with our proposed deletions, follow the instructions in Notice 437.

If you decide to contest this determination, you may file an action for declaratory judgment under the provisions of section 7428 of the Code in one of the following three venues: 1) United States Tax Court, 2) the United States Court of Federal Claims, or 3) the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. A petition or complaint in one of these three courts must be filed within 90 days from the date this determination letter was mailed to you. Please contact the clerk of the appropriate court for rules for

2

filing petitions for declaratory judgment. To secure a petition form from the United States Tax Court, write to the United States Tax Court, 400 Second Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20217. See also Publication 892.

You also 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 tax matters that may not have been resolved through normal channels get prompt and proper handling. If you want Taxpayer Advocate assistance, please contact the Taxpayer Advocate for the IRS office that issued this letter. You may call toll-free, 1-877-777-4778, for the Taxpayer Advocate or visit www.irs.gov/advocate for more information.

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

Sincerely Yours,
Nan M. Shimizu
Appeals Team Manager

Enclosure: Publication 892 and/or 556

Department of the Treasury Date:

Internal Revenue Service 08/27/2015

1111 Constitution Ave., N.W. Employer ID number:
IRS Washington, D.C. 20224

Contact person/ID number:
Contact telephone number:
Form you must file:

Tax years:

Dear

This letter is our final determination that you don’t qualify for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). Recently, we sent you a proposed adverse determination in response to your application. The proposed adverse determination explained the facts, law, and basis for our conclusion, and it gave you 30 days to file a protest. Because we didn’t receive a protest within the required 30 days, the proposed determination is now final.

Because you don’t qualify as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, donors can’t deduct contributions to you under Section 170 of the Code. You must file federal income tax returns for the tax years listed at the top of this letter using the required form (also listed at the top of this letter) within 30 days of this letter unless you request an extension of time to file.

We’ll make this final adverse determination letter and the proposed adverse determination letter available for public inspection (as required under Section 6110 of the Code) after deleting certain identifying information. Please read the enclosed Notice 437, Notice of Intention to Disclose, and review the two attached letters that show our proposed deletions. If you disagree with our proposed deletions, follow the instructions in the Notice 437 on how to notify us. If you agree with our deletions, you don’t need to take any further action.

We’ll also notify the appropriate state officials of our determination by sending them a copy of this final letter and the proposed determination letter (under Section 6104(c) of the Code). You should contact your state officials if you have questions about how this determination will affect your state responsibilities and requirements.

If you have questions about this letter, you can contact the person listed at the top of this letter. If you have questions about your federal income tax status and responsibilities, call our customer service number at 1-800-829-1040 (TTY 1-800-829-4933 for deaf or hard of hearing) or customer service for businesses at 1-800-829-4933.

Letter 4038 (Rev. 7-2014)
Catalog Number 47632S

Sincerely,

Tamera Ripperda
Director, Exempt Organizations

Enclosures:

Notice 437

Redacted Letter 4036, Proposed Adverse Determination under IRC Section 501(c)(3) Redacted Letter 4038, Final Adverse Determination under IRC Section 501(c)(3) - No Protest

Letter 4038 (Rev. 7-2014)
Catalog Number 47632S