IRS revokes a charity's exemption after it ignored records requests during an audit

Plain-English summary

The IRS issued a final determination revoking an organization's IRC § 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status after the organization repeatedly failed to respond to the examiner's requests for financial and organizational records. Because the group produced no books, records, or annual information, the IRS could not verify that it operated for exempt purposes and concluded it did not meet the recordkeeping and filing duties in IRC §§ 6001 and 6033. The organization had filed a Form 990-EZ reporting $0 in gross receipts and $0 in expenditures, and it did not answer phone messages or two certified mailings. The revocation, effective a redacted January 1 date, means contributions are no longer deductible under IRC § 170 and the organization must file corporate income tax returns (Form 1120). The letter also explains the taxpayer's right to seek a declaratory judgment under IRC § 7428.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Did the organization remain qualified for exemption under IRC § 501(c)(3)?
• Outcome: Revocation.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 501(a), 501(c)(3), 170, 6001, 6033, and 7428; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1 and 1.6001-1; Rev. Rul. 59-95.

Full text (IRS public release)

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

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES

DIVISION Date: April 24, 2020

Taxpayer ID Number:

Form:
Number: 202052023
Release Date: 12/24/2020 Tax Period(s) ended:
UIL: 501.03-00 Person to Contact:

Identification Number:
Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

CERTIFIED MAIL — Return Receipt Requested
LAST DAY FOR FILING A PETITION WITH THE TAX COURT:

Dear

This is a final determination that you do not qualify for exemption from federal income tax
under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a) as an organization described in IRC
Section 501(c)(3), effective January 1, 20XX. Your determination letter dated August 26, 20XX
is revoked.

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

You have not established that you are operated exclusively for an exempt purpose
or that you have been engaged primarily in activities that accomplish one or more
exempt purposes and that no part of your net earnings inure to the benefit of
private shareholders or individuals within the meaning of IRC Section 501(c)(3).
You did not respond to our repeated requests to you about material matters
concerning your operations as required by Sections 6001 and 6033(a)(1) and

Rev. Rul. 59-95, 1959-1 C.B. 627

As such, you failed to meet the requirements of IRC Section 501(c)(3) and Treasury
Regulations Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c), in that you have not established that you were operated
exclusively for exempt purposes.

Contributions to your organization are no longer deductible under IRC Section 170.
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.

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. 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 by referring to the enclosed Publication 892. 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., NW
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.

We'll notify the appropriate state officials (as permitted by law) of our determination that you
aren't an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3).

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.

Taxpayer Advocate assistance can't be used as substitute for established IRS procedures,
formal appeals processes, etc. The Taxpayer Advocate is not able to reverse legal or
technically correct tax determination, nor extend the time fixed by law that you have to file a
petition in Court. The Taxpayer Advocate can, however, see that a tax matter that may not
have been resolved through normal channels gets prompt and proper handling.

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

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,
Enclosures:
Publication 892

Maria D. Hooke
Director, EO Examinations

Department of the Treasury Date:
Internal Revenue Service 11/04/2020
Tax Exempt and Government Entities Taxpayer ID number:

Form:
Tax periods ended:

Person to contact:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:
Fax:
Address:
Manager's contact information:
Name:
ID number:
CERTIFIED MAIL — Return Receipt Requested Telephone:

Response due date:

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)(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 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.

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

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.

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,
for
Maria Hooke
Director, Exempt Organizations Examinations

Enclosures:
Form 886-A
Form 6018

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

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury — Internal Revenue Service Schedule number or exhibit
(May 2017) Explanation of Items
Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number (last 4 digits) | Year/Period ended
20XX

ISSUE:
Whether , located in , , continues to qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code?

FACTS:

was granted tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(a)(9) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) and established on December 29, 20XX. The organization conducted its operations
out of

The organization filed Form 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 20XX on August 28, 20XX. As of October 30, 20XX, the return
been filed for all of the tax years through December 31, 20XX.

The 20XX Form 990-EZ tax return showed gross receipts of $0 and expenditures of $0

The examination began on August 29, 20XX. The request for information (Information Document Request, or IDR) was issued on
September 9, 20XX. The request was for financial and organizational information for the year under examination. The information
was due on October 29, 20XX.

Phone number was available for the organization with message being left on October 14, 20XX. EO did not return call, on October 21,
20XX to date the phone has a message that it is temporarily unavailable.

The second request for information (a copy of the first IDR) was sent Certified Mail on October 18, 20XX. The organization failed to
respond to this request the signed certified mail card was returned on October 29, 20XX.

To date, no response or submission of the financial statements, organizational information, meeting minutes, board of director lists,
and other documents requested on IDR 001.

LAW:

IRC Section 501(c)(3) exempts from Federal income tax corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and
operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, 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 and which does
not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate
for public office.

Catalog Number 20810W Page 1 www.irs.gov Form 886-A (Rev. 5-2017)

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury — Internal Revenue Service Schedule number or exhibit
(May 2017) Explanation of Items
Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number (last 4 digits) | Year/Period ended
20XX

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

IRC Section 6033(a)(1) provides, except as provided in IRC Section 6033(a)(2), every organization exempt from tax under Section 501(a)
shall file an annual return, stating specifically the items of gross income receipts and disbursements, and such other information for the
purposes of carrying out the internal revenue laws. The Secretary may also prescribe by forms or regulations the requirement of every
organization to 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.

Treas. Reg. Section 1.6001-1(c) states that 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
manent books of account or records including inventories
as are sufficient to show specifically the items of a income, receipts and disbursements. Such organizations shall also keep
such books and records as are required to substantiate the information required by section 6033. See section 2033 and
Section 1.6033-1 through 3

Treas. Reg. § 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 Service officers or employees, and shall be retained as long as the contents thereof may be material in the
administration of any Internal Revenue law

In accordance with the above cited provisions of the Code and Regulations under IRC § 6001 and 6033, organizations recognized as
exempt from federal income tax must meet certain reporting requirements. These requirements relate to the filing of a complete and
accurate annual information (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.

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION:

Failure to Provide Records
The EO has failed to provide records as is required in Code § 6033(a)(1) and Regulation § 1.6033-1(h)(2). They failed to provide any
organizational or financial information that we requested during the examination. We attempted to obtain these records numerous times by
mail and phone

Without the EO's records, we cannot verify that they are operating according to their exempt purpose. Our position is that the organization
then, is not operating for exempt purposes. They have provided nothing to the contrary

TAXPAYER'S POSITION:

Catalog Number 20810W Page 2 www.irs.gov Form 886-A (Rev. 5-2017)

Form 886-A Department of the Treasury — Internal Revenue Service Schedule number or exhibit
(May 2017) Explanation of Items
Name of taxpayer Tax Identification Number (last 4 digits) | Year/Period ended
20XX

The taxpayer's position is unknown at this time.

CONCLUSION:

By not complying with the Code and Regulations, the organization has jeopardized its exempt status. They have failed to provide required
documentation, thereby failing to be complaint with the Code, and failing to show any evidence of their exempt activities. We have no
reason to believe that the EO is operating for exempt purposes.

As a result of the examination, we have determined that the EO is not operating for exempt purposes as a §501(c)(3) organization. They
have not provided any information to the contrary. Accordingly, since the organization failed to operate primarily for exempt purposes,
we are proposing revocation of their tax-exempt status, effective January 1, 20XX.

Since the organization will no longer have tax-exempt status beginning January 1, 20XX, they are liable for filing Form 1120, U.S.
Corporation Income Tax Return, as of that date.

Catalog Number 20810W Page 3 www.irs.gov Form 886-A (Rev. 5-2017)