Exemption revoked after disability-services organization became inactive

Plain-English summary

A nonprofit had been recognized under section 501(c)(3) to diagnose developmental disabilities and help affected people locate services. After government funding ended, its Forms 990 reported that it provided no services, while its remaining activities involved renting facilities, selling assets, and settling debts. The IRS also found that the articles on file lacked a dissolution clause and that the organization repeatedly failed to provide enough financial and operational records during an examination. The IRS revoked exemption effective July 1 of a redacted year because the organization failed the organizational and operational tests and did not establish continued compliance with sections 6001 and 6033. Contributions were no longer deductible, and the organization was directed to file corporate income tax returns for three fiscal years.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Should the organization retain section 501(c)(3) status after it ceased its disability-services program and failed to substantiate continued exempt operations?
• Outcome: revocation, because it lacked an adequate dissolution provision, no longer conducted exempt activities, and did not provide sufficient records
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 501(c)(3), 6001, 6033; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1, 1.6001-1, 1.6033-2(i)(2); Rev. Rul. 58-617; Rev. Rul. 59-95

Full text (IRS public release)

Transcriber's note: this document is a 20-page scan containing a final revocation letter, a proposed revocation letter, and an examination report. Obvious OCR errors in agency headings, form labels, bullets, punctuation, spacing, and citations were corrected by comparison with every page image. Redacted identifying fields and dates are marked [redacted] or 20XX as they appear in the release. Original grammatical and typographical irregularities are preserved. The wording is otherwise preserved verbatim.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
1100 Commerce Street, MC 4920DAL
Dallas, TX 75242

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

Release Number: 202004014
Release Date: 1/24/2020
UIL CODE: 501.03-00
Date: 10/09/2019

EIN: [redacted]
Person to Contact: [redacted]
Identification Number: [redacted]
Telephone Number: [redacted]
Fax: [redacted]

CERTIFIED MAIL - Return Receipt Requested
LAST DAY FOR FILING A PETITION WITH THE TAX COURT: JAN 07 2020

Dear [redacted]:

This is a final determination that you do not qualify for exemption from federal income tax under
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") section 501(a) as an organization described in Code
section 501(c)(3), effective July 1, 20XX. Your determination letter dated November 19, 19XX
is revoked.

Our adverse determination as to your exempt status was made for the following reasons:

Organizations described in I.R.C. § 501(c)(3) and exempt under section 501(a) must
be both organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes. You have not
demonstrated that you are organized and operated exclusively for charitable,
educational, or other exempt purposes within the meaning of I.R.C. 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. 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. § 501(c)(3) and Treasury Regulation
§ 1.501(c)(3)-1(a), in that you have not established that you were organized and operated
exclusively for exempt purposes and that no part of your earnings inured to the benefit of private
shareholders or individuals.

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

Organizations that are not exempt under section 501 generally are required to file federal
income tax returns and pay tax, where applicable. For further instructions, forms, and
information please visit www.irs.gov.

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 was mailed to you. Please contact the clerk of the
appropriate court for rules and the appropriate forms for filing petitions for declaratory judgment.
Please refer to the enclosed Publication 892 for additional information. You may write to the
courts at the following addresses:

United States Tax Court
400 Second Street, NW
Washington, DC 20217

U.S. Court of Federal Claims
717 Madison Place, NW
Washington, DC 20005

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
333 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20001

Processing of income tax returns and assessments of any taxes due will not be delayed if you
file a petition for declaratory judgment under section 7428 of the Internal Revenue Code.

You may be eligible for help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). TAS is an
independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your taxpayer rights. TAS can
offer you help if your tax problem is causing a hardship, or you've tried but haven't been able to
resolve your problem with the IRS. If you qualify for TAS assistance, which is always free, TAS
will do everything possible to help you. Visit www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call
1-877-777-4778.

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

Sincerely,

Maria Hooke
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 892

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Tax Exempt and Government Entities
Exempt Organizations Examinations

Date:
April 3, 2019
Taxpayer Identification Number: [redacted]
Form:
990 Return
Tax Year(s) Ended:
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX
Person to Contact: [redacted]
Employee ID: [redacted]
Telephone: [redacted]
Fax: [redacted]
Manager’s Contact Information:
Employee ID: [redacted]
Telephone: [redacted]
Response Due Date:
May 3, 2019

CERTIFIED MAIL — Return Receipt Requested

Dear [redacted]:

Why you’re receiving this letter

We enclosed a copy of our audit report, Form 886-A, Explanation of Items, explaining that we
propose to revoke your tax-exempt status as an organization described in Internal Revenue
Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3).

If you agree

If you haven't already, please sign the enclosed Form 6018, Consent to Proposed Action, and
return it to the contact person shown at the top of this letter. We'll issue a final adverse letter
determining that you aren't an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) for the periods
above.

After we issue the final adverse determination letter, we'll announce that your organization is no
longer eligible to receive tax deductible contributions under IRC Section 170.

If you disagree

1. Request a meeting or telephone conference with the manager shown at the top of this
letter.

2. Send any information you want us to consider.
3. File a protest with the IRS Appeals Office. If you request a meeting with the manager or

send additional information as stated in 1 and 2, above, you'll still be able to file a protest
with the IRS Appeals Office after the meeting or after we consider the information.

Letter 3618 (Rev. 9-2017)
Catalog Number 34809F

The IRS Appeals Office is independent of the Exempt Organizations division and
resolves most disputes informally. If you file a protest, the auditing agent may ask you to
sign a consent to extend the period of limitations for assessing tax. This is to allow the
IRS Appeals Office enough time to consider your case. For your protest to be valid, it
must contain certain specific information, including a statement of the facts, applicable
law, and arguments in support of your position. For specific information needed for a
valid protest, refer to Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Determination on Tax-
Exempt Status.

Fast Track Mediation (FTM) referred to in Publication 3498, The Examination Process,
generally doesn't apply now that we've issued this letter.

4. Request technical advice from the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt
Government Entities) if you feel the issue hasn’t been addressed in published precedent
or has been treated inconsistently by the IRS.

If you’re considering requesting technical advice, contact the person shown at the top of
this letter. If you disagree with the technical advice decision, you will be able to appeal
to the IRS Appeals Office, as explained above. A decision made in a technical advice
memorandum, however, generally is final and binding on Appeals.

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 adverse determination letter.

Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Office is a taxpayer right

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that can
help protect your taxpayer rights. TAS can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a
hardship, or you've tried but haven't been able to resolve your problem with the IRS. If you
qualify for TAS assistance, which is always free, TAS will do everything possible to help you.
Visit www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 877-777-4778.

For additional information
You can get any of the forms and publications mentioned in this letter by visiting our website at
www.irs.gov/forms-pubs or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

If you have questions, you can contact the person shown at the top of this letter.

Sincerely,

Maria Hooke

Director, Exempt Organizations
Examinations

Enclosures:
Form 886-A
Form 6018

2 Letter 3618 (Rev. 9-2017)
Catalog Number 34809F


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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

ISSUE:
Whether [redacted] tax-exempt status should be revoked because it does not meet the requirements for
exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
FACTS:

Background

The Administrative file in the possession of the Internal Revenue Service for
[redacted] ("[redacted]") was reviewed and it contained
the following background information.

Form 1023 Application

[redacted] submitted a Form 1023- Application for Exemption, to the Internal Revenue Service
on April 4, 19XX. The Form 1023 was signed by [redacted], the organization Executive Director.

The organization provided a narrative description of its activities which stated that [redacted] was currently in the organizational stage, but the planned activities were:

• “The Center intends to diagnose the level of developmental disorders (mental
retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy...) in individuals referred to the Center
from schools and social agencies. After initial diagnosis and counseling with
the individual and his family, the individual is referred to the proper receiving
unit, i.e. hospital, mental health center, etc., for in-depth diagnosis and
treatment.

• The functions to be performed by the Center are unique within the specific
geographical area served by the Center; the [redacted] of [redacted]. This area was previously served by a diagnostic Center located at
[redacted]. However, [redacted] was closed in November of 19XX. The
complete staff of the unit formerly located at [redacted], including [redacted] psychiatrist, [redacted] medical doctor and [redacted] social workers, is not associated
with [redacted] and will perform the same diagnostic that were formerly performed at [redacted].
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

Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Name of Taxpayer

• No medical treatment will be given at the Center; our services being
completely of a diagnostic nature.

• In addition, Parent training will be offered to assist Parents of the disabled in
providing maximum opportunities to their children. A variety of homebound
components will be offered. Besides counseling, [redacted] offers homemaker services’.

The application stated that these activities were to be funded through Federal and State
funds: contractual fees from clients and public contributions.

Organizing Document

The Articles of Incorporation were included with the Form 1023 application, but showed
no evidence that they were filed with the State of [redacted], The Articles included the
following purpose:

“This corporation is formed for charitable and benevolent purposes and especially:

(1) To establish, own, operate, control, conduct and maintain, not for pecuniary
profit, a facility for the diagnosis, treatment and referral of developmentally
disabled persons; however, no medical treatment shall be rendered at any
time except by properly qualified and licensed physicians.

(2) To work in conjunction with other social agencies in the diagnosis and
treatment of developmentally disabled persons.

(3) The corporation is not organized for profit and no part of its net income shall
inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, or other individual.

(4) For the purposes above specified, to receive donations, to receive, manage,
take and hold real estate and personal property, by gift, grant devise or
bequest.

(5) The Corporation will not engage in the practice of medicine, nor perform any
of the services of a licensed physician.”

There were no bylaws.

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


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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Correspondence

The Internal Revenue Service issued Letter 998 on August 23, 19XX that requested the
organization amend its Articles of Incorporation to include an Operational limitations
clause and a Dissolution clause. The response due date was September 7, 19XX.

A letter was received from [redacted], that thanked the Internal Revenue
Service for our letter of September 11, 19XX issuing a conditional exempt status until
receipt of the Amended Articles of Incorporation. It stated that the Amended Articles of
Incorporation were enclosed. No letter from the Internal Revenue Services dated
September 11, 19XX was in the administrative file. No amended Articles of Amendment
were in the administrative file.

Exemption Letter

[redacted] was recognized as exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code and issued advance ruling letter 1045 on April 12, 19XX. There
was a note at the end of the letter that stated, “This rescinds our conditional exemption
letter dated September 11, 19XX.” On November 19, 19XX, the Internal Revenue
Service made a final ruling on the organization’s foundation classification and issued
Letter 1050 which stated [redacted] foundation classification was under sections 509(a)(1)
and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Filed Forms 990
[redacted] filed Forms 990 for the fiscal years ended June 30, 20XX; June 30, 20XX and June
30, 20XX.
Part III Statement of Program Service Accomplishments for all [redacted] years included the
following statement:

“The organization did not provide any services for this fiscal year due to lack of
funding.”

[redacted] reported the following income on their Forms 990.

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -3-


Form 886A

Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

Explanation of Items

Schedule No. or Exhibit

Name of Taxpayer

Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Income 20XX 20XX 20XX
Contributions 0.00
Gross Rents 0.00 0.00

TOTAL 0.00 0.00 0.00

[redacted] reported the following expenses on their Forms 990.

Expenses 20XX 20XX 20XX
Compensation of

Officers - - 0.00
Other salaries and

wages - - 0.00
Payroll taxes - - 0.00
Legal 0.00 0.00 -
Accounting - 0.00 0.00
Office expenses 0.00 0.00 0.00
Interest 0.00 0.00 -
Depreciation 0.00 0.00 -
Insurance 0.00 0.00 -
All other expenses 0.00 0.00 -
Rental of

Equipment - - 0.00
Data Processing - - 0.00
Misc Expenses - - 0.00
TOTAL 0.00 0.00 0.00

[redacted] reported the following assets and liabilities on their Forms 990.

Assets 20XX 20XX 20XX
Cash 0.00 0.00 0.00
Land 0.00 0.00 -
Buildings 0.00 0.00 -
Other - - 0.00
TOTAL 0.00 0.00 0.00

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68)

Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

Page: -4-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Liabilities 20XX 20XX 20XX
Accounts
payable/Accrued
expenses 0.00 0.00 0.00
Secured Mortgages
and notes payable
to unrelated third
parties 0.00 0.00 0.00
Mortgage payable 0.00 0.00 -
Line of Credit 0.00 0.00 -
Accrued salaries 0.00 0.00 :
Dept. of Human
services 0.00 0.00 -
Taxes Payable 0.00 0.00 (0.00)
Tennant Security
Deposit - 0.00 -
Federal Income tax - - 0.00
Accounts Payable - - 0.00

- - 0.00
Due to Employees - - 0.00
TOTAL 0.00 0.00 0.00

Examination

An examination of the Form 990 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX was initiated
by Revenue Agent [redacted] with the mailing out of Appointment Letter 3611,
Information Document Request- 1 and Publication 1 on April 11, 20XX. Information
Document Request 1 requested such information as: an interview; organizing
documents; tour of facilities; and financial records to document revenue, expenses,
assets and liabilities reported on the Form 990 (see Exhibit A).

Agent [redacted] received a telephone message on May 2, 20XX from
[redacted] which stated he was representing [redacted]. On May 23, 20XX, Agent [redacted] spoke to
[redacted] and the examination was scheduled for June 13, 20XX. Later in the day,
[redacted] faxed a Form 2848- Power of Attorney to Agent [redacted]. Subsequently a corrected Form
2848 was submitted to Agent [redacted] on May 24, 20XX. The box for copies of notices
and communications to be sent to the representatives was not checked.

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -5-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Agent [redacted] conducted an examination at the offices of [redacted]
on June 13, 20XX. [redacted] provided some financial records; bank statements,
four pages of the settlement statement for the sale of property; and records relating to
the bankruptcy for review. A telephone interview was conducted with [redacted], Executive Director/Founder. Agent [redacted] paraphrased the following statements from
the conversation with [redacted]:
• Organization was formed to provide professional assistance in locating and
securing needed services and benefits for individuals who are subjected and
diagnosed with developmental disabilities.

• The Department of Human Services discontinued funding of the organization as
of June 20XX. The Department of Human Services performed their own audit on
the organization. Based on DHS findings, DHS determined that the organization
was not meeting the requirements for the amount of money that was being
provided to the organization. The end result was that DHS had recouped a
portion of the amount received by the organization and the organization funding
was discontinued.

On June 27, 20XX Agent [redacted] faxed Information Document Request 2 to [redacted]. The response due date was July 12, 20XX. Information Document Request 2
requested such information as: substantiation of income and expenses from rental
income; receipts, cancelled checks and minutes associated with loans made by the
executive director; bankruptcy documentation; documentation of the sale of the building
and the use of the proceeds; and Forms 1099-MISC for legal fees (see Exhibit B). No
response was received. Agent [redacted] typed the interview and faxed to [redacted] on
July 7, 20XX and requested a signature to confirm the information was accurate. The
interview notes were not sent back and there was no comment (see Exhibit C).

The examination was transferred to Revenue Agent [redacted] on September
19, 20XX, and subsequently expanded to fiscal years June 30, 20XX ad June 30,
20XX. The following actions were taken by Agent [redacted] to request documentation

for the audit:

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -6-


Form 886A

Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

Explanation of Items

Schedule No. or Exhibit

Name of Taxpayer

Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Certified
Mailed Receipt
Date Correspondence to: Due date received Response Exhibit

Cover Letter with copies of
Letter 3611, IDR-1 and IDR-
2 sent by Agent [redacted]

11/2/20XX | Certified Mail 11/30/20XX | 11/13/20XX | response D
Letter 3611, IDR-3 and
Publication 1- Certified Mail.
Audit letter for June 30,
20XX and expanded to
years June 30, 20XX and No

1/11/20XX | June 30, 20XX 2/12/20XX 1/23/20XX response E
Letter 5077-B and IDR-03
for items that cannot be
summonsed. Letter 5077-D
and IDR-03 for items that
can be summonsed- No

3/26/20XX | Certified Mail 4/5/20XX 4/3/20XX | response F

Mailed

Letter 5077-A Pre-Summons returned to
Notice and IDR-03 for items sender
that can be summonsed- received 05-

4/19/20XX | Certified Mail. 5/3/20XX 17-20XX G

On May 15, 20XX, updated Forms 2848- Power of Attorney for representatives
[redacted], Enrolled Agent and [redacted], CPA was faxed to the Internal Revenue
Service. The box for copies of notices and communications to be sent to the
representatives was checked.

On June 6, 20XX, the following documents were received from representative [redacted]:

• A cover letter by [redacted]
• A letter with a list of enclosed items
• Form 990 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX (unsigned)
• Last Certified Audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX
• Interview Questions by Revenue Agent [redacted]
• Board minutes for May 9, 20XX and June 9, 20XX
• Executive Director's report for May 15, 20XX; August 14, 20XX; September 4,
20XX; and a report with no date
• Board resolution signed April 16, 20XX

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68)

Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

Page: -7-


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

Explanation of Items

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

• HUD Statement for sale of property
• Court filing and settlement of suit by [redacted] vs. [redacted]
• Payroll recap; Form 941 for 12/31/20XX; Forms W-2 for 20XX and 20XX
• Working trial balance for fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX
• Spreadsheet of Due to [redacted]
• [redacted] checking account statements and cancelled checks for April 20XX
and June 20XX
• Working trial balance for fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX
• Spreadsheet of Due to [redacted]
• [redacted] checking account statements and cancelled checks for July 20XX,
August 20XX, September 20XX, October 20XX, November 20XX, December
20XX, February 20XX, March 20XX, April 20XX, and June 20XX
• Chart of accounts for fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX
• Financial statement for fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX
• General ledger for fiscal year ended June 30, 20XX
• [redacted] checking account statements and cancelled checks for August
20XX, September 20XX, November 20XX, December 20XX (no checks),
January 20XX, February 20XX, March 20XX, April 20XX, May 20XX, and June
20XX.

The information was incomplete and a cover letter with Information Document Requests
3 through 8 were sent to the organization and to both representatives on August 9,
20XX (see Exhibit H). The response due date was September 10, 20XX. The cover
letter informed the organization that the previous correspondence was incomplete and
that they were required to make records available to substantiate their exempt status.
Attached to the cover letter was the following:

Information Document Request 3- Records for audit. Notations were made
identifying each area where information was not provided or deemed to be
missing.

Information Document Request- 4 Income sources. Requested documentation of
bank deposits to determine the type and source of income.

Information Document Request- 5 Debit from Bank Account. Requested
contracts, invoices, bills and receipts to determine the purpose of the expenses.

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

Page: -8-

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

Explanation of Items

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Information Document Request- 6 Vendor Review. Provided a list of vendors and
payments. Requested contracts, invoices, and receipts to determine the purpose
of the expenses.

Information Document Request- 7 Accrued Payroll. Requested documentation of
the accrued payroll reported on the balance sheet.

Information Document Request- 8 Loan from Officer. Requested cancelled
checks, credit card receipts, credit card statements, receipts, invoices, paid bills,
and other documentation to document loans from the Executive
Director/Founder.

There was no response by the due date of September 10, 20XX. Subsequently a
meeting was scheduled with [redacted] at his office on September 18, 20XX to
discuss the outstanding document requests.

LAW:

Information Document Request- 4 Income sources. No documentation provided.
Per [redacted], since the organization was under receivership they were not
collecting the income and had no records.

Information Document Request- 5 Debit from Bank Account. No
documentation provided.

Information Document Request- 6 Vendor Review. Documentation was provided
for only one vendor [redacted], Attorney. No contracts, invoices, receipts or
other documentation was provided for the other vendors on the list. In addition,
no documentation was provided of the TIN’s for any of the vendors. A list of
additional checks for July 20XX for moving/storage compensation was provided.

Information Document Request- 7 Accrued Payroll. No documentation provided.

Information Document Request- 8 Loan from Officer. Provided cancelled checks,
bank statements and credit card statements from the Executive Director/Founder
[redacted] of payments made on behalf of the organization. Invoices and bills for all the
expenditures the officer paid on behalf of the organization were not provided.

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

Page: -9-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) exempts from federal income tax
organizations which are organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable,
scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national
or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the
provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or
animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private
shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on
propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise
provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including
the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in
opposition to) any candidate for public office.

Internal Revenue Code section 6001 provides that every person liable for any tax
imposed by the Code, or for the collection thereof, shall keep adequate records as the
Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate may from time to time prescribe.

Internal Revenue Code section 6033 (a)(1) provides, except as provided in section
6033(a)(3), 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.

Treasury Regulations section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) provides that in order to be exempt
as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code, 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.

Treasury Regulations section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1)(i) Organizational test-- states an
organization is organized exclusively for one or more exempt purposes only if its articles
of organization (referred to in this section as its articles) as defined in subparagraph (2)
of this paragraph:

(a) Limit the purposes of such organization to one or more exempt purposes; and

(b) Do not expressly empower the organization to engage, otherwise than as an
insubstantial part of its activities, in activities which in themselves are not in furtherance
of one or more exempt purposes.

Treasury Regulations section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1)(iii) states an organization is not
organized exclusively for one or more exempt purposes if its articles expressly

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -10-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

empower it to carry on, otherwise than as an insubstantial part of its activities, activities
which are not in furtherance of one or more exempt purposes, even though such
organization is, by the terms of such articles, created for a purpose that is no broader
than the purposes specified in section 501(c)(3) of the Code. Thus, an organization that
is empowered by its articles to engage in a manufacturing business, or to engage in the
operation of a social club does not meet the organizational test regardless of the fact
that its articles may state that such organization is created for charitable purposes
within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Code.

Treasury Regulations section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(4) provides that an organization is not
organized exclusively for one or more exempt purposes unless its assets are dedicated
to an exempt purpose. An organization's assets will be considered dedicated to an
exempt purpose, for example, if, upon dissolution, such assets would, by reason of a
provision in the organization's articles or by operation of law, be distributed for one or
more exempt purposes, or to the Federal Government, or to a State or local
government, for a public purpose, or would be distributed by a court to another
organization to be used in such manner as in the judgment of the court will best
accomplish the general purposes for which the dissolved organization was organized.
However, an organization does not meet the organizational test if its articles or the law
of the State in which it was created provide that its assets would, upon dissolution, be
distributed to its members or shareholders.

Treasury Regulations section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) Operational test-- states that 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 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.

Treasury Regulations section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(i) states an organization may be
exempt as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code if it is organized
and operated exclusively for one or more of the following

purposes:

(a) Religious,

(b) Charitable,

(c) Scientific,

(d) Testing for public safety,

(e) Literary,

(f) Educational, or

(g) Prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -11-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Treasury Regulations section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii) states an organization is not
organized or operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in
subdivision (i) of this subparagraph unless it serves a public rather than a private
interest. Thus, to meet the requirement of this subdivision, 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 Regulations section 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.

Treasury Regulations section 1.6001-1(c) Exempt organizations. In addition to such
permanent books and records as are required by paragraph (a) of this section with
respect to the tax imposed by section 511 on unrelated business income of certain
exempt organizations, every organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) shall
keep such permanent books of account or records, including inventories, as are
sufficient to show specifically the items of gross income, receipts and disbursements.
Such organizations shall also keep such books and records as are required to
substantiate the information required by section 6033.

Treasury Regulations section 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 employees and shall be retained so long as the contents thereof
may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law.

Treasury Regulations section 1.6033-2(i)(2) Every organization which is exempt from
tax, whether or not 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 and administering the provisions of
Subchapter F (section 501 and following), Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code, section
6033, and Chapter 42 of Subtitle D of the Code. See section 6001and § 1.6001-1 with
respect to the authority of the district directors or directors of service centers to require
such additional information and with respect to the books of account or records to be
kept by such organizations.

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -12-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Revenue Ruling 58-617, 1958-2 CB 260, (Jan. 01, 1958) Rulings and determinations
letters granting exemption from federal income tax to an organization described in
section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, to which contributions are
deductible by donors in computing their taxable income in the manner and to the extent
provided by section 170 of the Code, are effective only so long as there are no material
changes in the character of the organization, the purposes for which it was organized,
or its methods of operation. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in
serious consequences to the organization for the reason that the ruling or determination
letter holding the organization exempt may be revoked retroactively to the date of the
changes affecting its exempt status, depending upon the circumstances involved, and
subject to the limitations on retroactivity of revocation found in section 503 of the Code.

In Rev. Rul. 59-95, 1959-1 C.B. 627, an exempt organization 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 section 6033 of the Code 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 Better Bus. Bureau v. United States, 326 U.S. 279 (1945), the United States
Supreme Court held that for an organization to qualify for tax exempt status, the
organization must be exclusively devoted to an exempt purpose and the presence of a
single nonexempt purpose, if substantial in nature, will destroy the exemption
regardless of the number or importance of truly exempt purposes. The court found that
a substantial purpose, if not the primary purpose, of the trade organization’s activities
was commercial in nature and therefore not entitled to exemption under section
501(c)(3).

In Community Education Foundation v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 20XX-223,
the Tax Court held that a nonprofit educational corporation's tax-exempt status
was properly revoked because it was not operated exclusively for an exempt
purpose. The organization was inactive for over seven years; thus, the
organization failed to meaningfully organize or allocate resources to any of the
activities mentioned in its application for exemption. Therefore, the organization
did not engage in any activity that accomplished one or more of the exempt
purposes under Code Sec. 501(c)(3).

TAXPAYER’S POSITION

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

Page: -13-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

Taxpayer has not provided a written position.

GOVERNMENT’S POSITION

The organization does not qualify for exemption under IRC 501(c)(3) for the
following reasons:

1. The organization does not meet the organizational test under IRC
501(c)(3).

2. The organization does not meet the operational test under IRC 501(c)(3).

3. The organization did not provide the documents required.

Organizational test

The Articles of Incorporation from your Form 1023 application was reviewed. To
meet the organizational test under IRC 501(c)(3), an organization is not
organized exclusively for one or more exempt purposes unless its assets are
dedicated to an exempt purpose. An organization’s assets will be considered
dedicated to an exempt purpose, for example, if, upon dissolution, such assets
would, by reason of a provision in the organization’s articles or by operation of
law, be distributed for one or more exempt purposes, to the Federal
Government, or to a State or local government, for a public purpose, or would be
distributed by a court to another organization to be used in such manner as in
the judgement of the court will best accomplish the general purposes for which
the dissolved organization was organized. See Treas. Regs. 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(4).

Your Articles of Incorporation did not have a dissolution clause. In Information
Document Requests 1, and 3 we requested amended organizing documents to
determine whether at some time you amended your articles to come into compliance.
You did not respond to these requests, so we must base our analysis on the articles we
have on file.

Since your articles does not have a dissolution clause, your organization does not meet
the organizational test under IRC 501(c)(3).

Operational test

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -14-

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

In order to meet the operational test, an organization must show that they engaged
primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of such exempt purposes specified
in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. See Treasury Regs. 1.501(c)(3)-
1(c)(1). You received exemption to provide services for the developmentally disabled.
You ceased to conduct this activity in 20XX when you lost your funding from the
Department of Human Services. In fact, your Forms 990 stated that you “did not
provide any services for this fiscal year due to lack of funding.” You have not provided
any evidence that your organization has conducted any other activities that would be
exempt under IRC 501(c)(3).

As demonstrated in Rev. Rul. 58-617, an organization’s exempt status will
remain in effect only so long as there are no material changes in the character of
the organization, the purposes for which it was organized, or its methods of
operation. In the recent court case Community Education Foundation v.
Commissioner, the court concluded that an organization that was inactive for
over seven years and did not operate exclusively for an exempt purpose did not
qualify for exemption under IRC 501(c)(3). The activities of your organization
have consisted of rental of facilities; selling assets and settling debts. These
activities do not further an exempt purpose. Your organization has failed to meet
the operational requirements to continue your exempt status under IRC
501(c)(3).

Failure to Provide Records

In accordance with the above cited provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and
Treasury Regulations under sections 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 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 was sent eight information document requests and failed to
submit a response to IDR’s 2,4,5, and 7; submitted a substantially incomplete
response to IDR 6; and submitted a partial response to IDR’s 1, 3 and 8. The
organization did not provide bank statements, cancelled checks, invoices,
receipts and other documentation that was sufficient:

• to determine the sources and type of income.
• to determine the purpose of the expenses.

Form 886-A (Rev. 4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -15-


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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended
June 30, 20XX

June 30, 20XX
June 30, 20XX

• to determine the organization’s assets and liabilities.

Your organization is similar to the organization in Rev. Rul. 59-95, 1959-1 C.B. 627.
You have not complied with the requests for examination and as such you have not
established that you are observing the conditions required for the continuation of
exempt status.

CONCLUSION:

Accordingly, [redacted] status as an organization described under section 501(c)(3) should
be revoked, effective July 1, 20XX, because it was not organized and operated for an
exempt purpose. Further, [redacted] failed to comply with IRC 6001 and 6033 and has not
established that it is observing the conditions required for the continuation of exempt
status. Form 1120 U.S. Corporate Income Tax Return should be filed for the fiscal tax
years ending June 30, 20XX; June 30, 20XX and June 30, 20XX.

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

Page: -16-