The IRS revokes a women's 501(c)(7) social club's exemption because rental and investment income from its building pushed non-member income over the 35 percent ceiling year after year

Plain-English summary

A women's social club recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(7) lost its exemption after an IRS examination found it drew too much of its money from outside its membership. A 501(c)(7) club may receive at most 35 percent of its gross receipts (including investment income) from non-member sources; go over that on a recurring basis and it is no longer operating substantially for the pleasure and recreation of members. This club owned a building: it used part of the building for its own activities and rented out the bottom floor as apartment space, and it also held savings accounts earning interest. That rental income and bank interest were treated as non-member (investment) income, and the club used the money to maintain and operate the building. The IRS found the club exceeded the 35 percent threshold repeatedly across the years reviewed, applied the facts-and-circumstances factors (the actual non-member percentage, how often non-members used the facilities, and how many years the limit was exceeded), and concluded the club no longer qualified. The club had no paid employees and believed it was still tax-exempt, but had not yet been shown the formal report. The exemption was revoked, which also ends eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions under section 170. The lesson: a social club that leans on rental or investment income to fund itself can cross the line that costs it exemption.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Does a 501(c)(7) social club that consistently exceeds the 35 percent non-member (investment/rental) income limit still qualify for exemption?
• Outcome: revocation (exempt status revoked; also ends section 170 deductibility)
• Key authorities: IRC § 501(c)(7); Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(7)-1; Public Law 94-568 (35% non-member income ceiling); Rev. Rul. 66-149, 69-220, 68-119; Aviation Club of Utah v. Commissioner, 162 F.2d 984; Spokane Motorcycle Club v. United States; Augusta Golf Association, Inc. v. United States, 338 F. Supp. 272

Full text (IRS public release)

Scanned document; transcribed from the IRS release with obvious OCR errors corrected. Redactions (blank spaces and dollar figures removed by the IRS under section 6110) are left blank.

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

Date: July 27, 2022

IRS Taxpayer ID number:
Form:
Tax periods ended:

Number: 202304011
Release Date: 1/27/2023

Person to contact:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:

UIL: 501.07-00
Fax:

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Dear

Why we are sending you this letter

This is a final determination that you don't qualify for exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a) as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(7), for the tax periods above. Your determination letter dated , is revoked.

Our adverse determination as to your exempt status was made for the following reasons: You have not established that you are operated substantially for the pleasure and recreation of your members or other nonprofitable purposes and no part of the earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder within the meaning of IRC Section 501(c)(7). You receive the majority of your income from nonmember sources on a recurring basis. As a result, you do not operate substantially for pleasure, recreation, or other non-profitable purposes.

Organizations that are not exempt under IRC 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.

What you must do if you disagree with this determination

If you want to contest our final determination, you have 90 days from the date this determination letter was mailed to you to file a petition or complaint in one of the three federal courts listed below.

How to file your action for declaratory judgment

If you decide to contest this determination, you may file an action for declaratory judgment under the provisions of IRC Section 7428 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.

Please contact the clerk of the appropriate court for rules and the appropriate forms for filing an action for declaratory judgment by referring to the enclosed Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Determination on Tax-Exempt Status. 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 20439

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 IRC Section 7428.

Letter 6337 (12-2020)
Catalog Number 74808E

Information about the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service

The IRS office whose phone number appears at the top of the notice can best address and access your tax information and help get you answers. However, you may be eligible for free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) if you can't resolve your tax problem with the IRS, or you believe an IRS procedure just isn't working as it should. TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights. Contact your local Taxpayer Advocate Office at:

Or call TAS at 877-777-4778. For more information about TAS and your rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, go to taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov. Do not send your federal court pleading to the TAS address listed above. Use the applicable federal court address provided earlier in the letter. Contacting TAS does not extend the time to file an action for declaratory judgment.

Where you can find more information

Enclosed are Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, and Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process, for more comprehensive information.

Find tax forms or publications by visiting www.irs.gov/forms or calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). If you have questions, you can call the person shown at the top of this letter.

If you prefer to write, use the address shown at the top of this letter. Include your telephone number, the best time to call, and a copy of this letter.

Keep the original letter for your records.

Sincerely,

A. Brinkley
Acting Director, Exempt Organizations Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 1
Publication 594
Publication 892

Letter 6337 (12-2020)
Catalog Number 74808E

Date: June 28, 2021

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

Taxpayer ID number:
Form:
Tax periods ended:

Person to contact:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:
Fax:
Address:

Manager's contact information:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:

Response due date:

CERTIFIED MAIL - Return Receipt Requested

Dear

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)(7).

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)(7) for the period 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 IRS Appeals Office after the meeting or after we consider the information.

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.

Enclosures:
Form 886-A
Form 6018
Publication 892
Publication 3498

Sincerely,

Sean E. O'Reilly
Director, Exempt Organizations Examinations

Letter 3618 (Rev. 8-2019)
Catalog Number 34809F

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

Explanation of Items

Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number (last 4 digits) Year/Period ended

ISSUE

If consistently exceeded the nonmember income limitation of percent under section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code do they continue to qualify for exemption as a ?

FACTS

• The was formed in in

• Per their organizing documents, the purpose is "to advance the interests and efficiency of women and to work for the education and welfare of the community."

• The accomplishes their primary purpose through various events and with members throughout the year.

• On the received tax exemption as a within the meaning of section 501(c)(7) of the Code from their date of formation of

• The receives financial support in the form of individual donations, proceeds from gaming activities conducted with club members, membership dues, miscellaneous income, and investment income consisting of rental income and bank interest income.

• The owns a and building, of which the club occupies the and and the bottom floor is to as apartment space.

• The held savings accounts that accrued interest and attributed to the total investment income received.

• During the Revenue Agent's interview with the , they explained that the investment income collected is used to cover the expenses incurred from maintaining and operating the building.

• The filed to claim unrelated business income and allocated all the business expenses incurred to said generated income, leaving unrelated business taxable income of $ .

• The does not have any paid employees.

• The filed all required and returns.

For the -year period immediately preceding and -year following the year under examination, the organization received the following support:

Sum of Years
Individual donations $ $ $
Activities with members $ $ $ $ $ $
Membership Dues $ $ $ $ $ $
Investment Income $ $ $ $ $ $
Other income (non-investment) $ $ $
Total support $ $ $ $ $ $
Investment income percentage % % % % % % %

LAW

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(7) exempts from federal income tax clubs organized for pleasure, recreation, and other non-profitable purposes, substantially all of the activities of which are for such purposes and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder.

Treasury Regulations (Treas. Regs.) Section 1.501(c)(7)-1 provides that, in general, the exemption extends to social and recreation clubs supported solely by membership fees, dues, and assessments. However, a club that engages in a business, such as making its social and recreational facilities open to the general public, is not organized and operated exclusively for pleasure, recreation and other non-profitable purposes, and is not exempt under section 501(a).

Public Law 94-568 provides that social clubs are permitted to receive up to 35% of their gross receipts, including investment income, from sources outside of their membership without losing their tax-exempt status. The Committee Reports for Public Law 94-568 (Senate Report No. 94-1318 2d Session, 1976-2 C.B. 597) further states:

(a) Within the 35 percent amount, not more than 15 percent of the gross receipts should be derived from the use of a social club's facilities or services by the general public. This means that an exempt social club may receive up to 35 percent of its gross receipts from a combination of investment income and receipts from non-members, so long as the latter do not represent more than 15 percent of total receipts.

(b) Thus, a social club may receive investment income up to the full 35 percent of its gross receipts if no income is derived from non-members' use of club facilities.

(c) In addition, the Committee Report states that where a club receives unusual amounts of income, such as from the sale of its clubhouse or similar facilities, that income is not to be included in the 35 percent formula.

Revenue Ruling 66-149 holds a social club as not exempt as an organization described in IRC § 501(c)(7) where it derives a substantial part of its income from non-member sources, such as dividends and interest on investments which it owns.

Revenue Ruling 69-220 precludes from exemption a social club that receives a substantial portion of its income from the rental of property and uses such income to defray operating expenses and to improve and expand its facilities.

In Aviation Club of Utah v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 162 F.2d 984, the court upheld the position taken by the tax court in a previous ruling whereby the income received by the club from non-exempt activities was so disproportionate to the income received from exempt purposes that the club lost its exempt status. Judge Murrah invoked the same concept as that in Spokane Motorcycle Club v. United States, whereby if a club engages in a business from which it derives profits from outside sources wholly disproportionate to nontaxable purposes, and such profits inure to the benefit of its members in the nature of permanent improvements and facilities, the club loses its exempt status.

In Revenue Ruling 68-119, 1968-1 C.B. 268 an equestrian social club that holds an annual one-day steeplechase meet which is open to the general public is found to be tax-exempt under IRC 501(c)(7). In this case, the club is said to derive a small amount of income from nonmembers in excess of expenses attributable to their participation and attendance. If any profit results, it is turned over to charity. Other club activities are supported by member dues. Therefore, the ruling holds, the income from non-members does not inure to the club's members.

In Augusta Golf Association, Inc. vs. United States, 338 F.Supp. 272, the court ruled, among other things, that the Association was exempt for federal income tax as a social club, despite practically all of the Association's income having been derived from "Calcutta" pools participated in by non-members. In the instant case, the social affairs at which the Calcuttas were featured were open only to members and their invited guests. The Association took a cut of 10% of the gross amount raised in these pools.

TAXPAYER'S POSITION

The taxpayer has not yet been presented with this formal report but has communicated that it believes it is tax-exempt.

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION

Based on the examination, the does not qualify for exemption as a social club described in IRC § 501(c)(7) and Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(7)-1 which provides that in general, this exemption extends to social and recreation clubs which are supported solely by membership fees, dues, and assessments.

Revenue Rulings 66-149 and 69-220 support this position stating that a social club that derives a substantial part of its income from non-member sources is not exempt as an organization described in 501(c)(7).

If the nonmember income limitation has been surpassed, a facts and circumstances test can be applied to consider continuing eligibility for tax-exempt status under IRC Section 501(c)(7). The factors to consider are:

• The actual percentage of nonmember receipts and/or investment income

• The frequency of nonmember use of club facilities

• The number of years exceeding the percentage

Applying these factors to the presents the following:

• The total gross receipts received over a -year period, as shown in the chart above, was $ and the total investment income during that same period was $ or %.

• The maintains rental units occupied by non-members throughout the year in the building. The also receives bank interest from various savings accounts.

• The organization exceeded the percent non-member income threshold as outlined in Public Law 94-568, on a recurring basis during the tax years ending through

Therefore, it is proposed that the tax-exempt status as an organization described in section 501(c)(7) of the Code be revoked effective

CONCLUSION

The has consistently exceeded the percent non-member income threshold under section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code and no longer qualifies for tax-exempt status as a

Catalog Number 20810W Form 886-A (Rev. 5-2017)