IRS revokes a youth hockey charity dominated by social and recreational events

Plain-English summary

The IRS revoked the Section 501(c)(3) status of an organization formed to provide hockey equipment, education, and scholarships to young athletes. During the year examined, the organization collected and refurbished used equipment, but it awarded no scholarships. It also organized road trips to hockey games, tailgate parties, and restaurant watch parties for fans of a professional team. The IRS treated those gatherings as social and recreational activities benefiting participants rather than a charitable class. Based on both expenditures and the number of events, the IRS found that more than an insubstantial part of the organization's activity served non-exempt purposes. It therefore concluded that the organization failed the operational test, revoked its exemption, ended contribution deductibility under Section 170, and required Form 1120 filings afterward.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Did the organization remain operated primarily for charitable purposes when most of its activities were hockey road trips, tailgates, and watch parties?
• Outcome: Revocation of exempt status
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 170, 501(c)(3), and 7428; Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(a) and (c); Rev. Rul. 67-327; Better Business Bureau v. United States

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: May 5, 2020

Number: 202052041
Release Date: 12/24/2020 Taxpayer ID Number:

UIL: 501.03-00 Form:

Tax Period(s) Ending:
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 July 1, 20XX. Your determination letter dated October 17, 20XX
is revoked.

Our adverse determination as to your exempt status was made for the following reasons:
Organizations described in IRC Section 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 operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or
other exempt purposes within the meaning of 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 IRC Section 501(c)(3) and Treasury
Regulations Section 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 IRC Section 170.

1

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

US 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,

[illegible signature]
Maria D. Hooke
Director, EO Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 892

2

Department of the Treasury Date:
Internal Revenue Service June 20, 2019
Tax Exempt and Government Entities Taxpayer Identification Number:
Exempt Organizations Examinations

Form:
Tax Year(s) Ended:
Person to Contact:

Employee ID:
Telephone:
Fax:
Manager’s Contact Information:

Employee ID:
Telephone:

CERTIFIED MAIL — Return Receipt Requested 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

Letter 3618 (Rev. 9-2017)
Catalog Number 48373U

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,

[illegible signature]
for Maria Hooke

Director, Exempt Organizations
Examinations

Enclosures:
Form 886-A
Form 6018
Form 4621-A
Pub 892

Pub 3498

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

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

Issues:
Whether the exempt status of (henceforth referred to as “organization”
“the Organization”) should be revoked, effective July 1, 20XX because it is failed to meet
the operational test under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3)?

Facts:

Application for Exemption:

The organization applied for tax-exempt status by filing the Form 1023, Application for
Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, on
.

In Part III of the Form 1023 the organization stated that they are organized and operated
exclusively to further a charitable purpose and that they have not conducted and will not
conduct prohibited activities that violate prohibitions and restrictions under section IRC
501(c)(3).

In Part VIII Line 22 of the Form 1023 the organization stated that it planned to provide
scholarships, fellowships, educational loans, or other educational grants to individuals,
including grants for travel, study, or other similar purposes.

Articles of Incorporation:

The organization incorporated on and was approved, as a
Nonprofit Corporation, under the laws of State.

Article two of the Articles of Incorporation states that this corporation is a nonprofit
public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is
organized under the Nonprofit Corporation Law for charitable purposes.

The specific purpose for which this corporation is organized are to provide hockey
equipment and education of the game to children in County.

Article Four(a) of the Articles of Incorporation states this corporation is organized and
operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code.

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
Explanation of Items Exhibit
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

Bylaws:

The organization stated in its Bylaws, the organization was formed for the following
purposes:

• To encourage and support the development of youth hockey and to help provide
  a structure for instruction and educate the public about the game. To engage in
  collection, refurbishment and redistribution of used hockey equipment to youth
  that have a need and to award scholarship to young hockey athletes.

• To provide hockey equipment and education of the game to children in
  county.

Exemption Letter:

The organization was granted tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) on
, with an effective date of as evidenced L947 issued to the
organization on .

Form 990-EZ and Reported Activities:

The Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income, filed by the
organization for the year beginning July 1, 20XX through June 30, 20XX described the
organizations primary exempt purpose as: to provide scholarships and equipment to
young hockey athletes.

Form 990-EZ, Part III, line 28, describes the organizations primary exempt purpose as:
to provide scholarships and equipment to young athletes. In the review of the Form 990-
EZ there were no amounts identified as scholarships.

Per a review of the expenses listed on Form 990, no scholarship activities were
conducted in the year of examination.

Organization Response to IDR #1 and #2 on Activities

In its response to the Information Document Request #1 and #2 the organization
provides the following as to the activities conducted by the organization:

1. The organization described its activities in general as:

“We are a diverse and committed group of people who have joined together to form
. The goal is to support youth hockey and do good works in the community

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
Explanation of Items Exhibit

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

in many different ways. We are structured as a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, and
funds ourselves by the generosity of our individual members. We
also accept matching corporate donations, and work with other sponsors who
believe in and support our cause.

2. The organization also stated that they conduct road trips as an organization to watch
   hockey games live and in-person. The organization provided the following with
   respect to the trips:

“Road trips are exactly what they sound like. We have a group of people who sign
up and pay to go to these locations and watch hockey games.”

3. The organization stated they conduct a activity to collect used hockey
   equipment at various locations to refurbish it and prepare it for kids around the world
   that cannot afford to buy their own equipment to play hockey. The organization
   works with primarily ice rinks. These ice rinks have kid leagues of all different
   ages and skills. The organization works with several different coaches of these
   leagues to determine who needs help with getting equipment and that is primary
   how the know whom to offer the refurbished equipment. The income description
   summarized the noncash donations received from the activities in the
   amount of $0.

4. The organization stated they have a scholarship program for students that are
   hockey players. The scholarships are awarded for equipment, hockey team and
   league expenses.

5. The organization stated they conduct tail gate parties which are gatherings they
   have on Sundays before the Home games. The are the
   which are a professional ice hockey team. The organization conducted nine of these
   throughout the year. The organization provided the following with respect to the tail
   gate activities:

“Tail gate parties are gatherings we have on Sundays before the home
games at on in ”

6. The organization stated that they conduct watch parties to gather and watch the
   when they are traveling and playing hockey in various other cities. The gatherings
   are at local restaurants. The board members do the planning based on what the
   hockey schedule is each season. The organization conducted five of these
   throughout the year. The organization provided the following with respect to the
   watch party activities:

“Watch parties are gatherings we have to watch the when they are traveling
and playing hockey in various other cities. We are holding these gatherings at either

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

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

on in or and on in
.”

The organization was asked to provide more detail regarding the road trip activities it
conducted for the year. The organization stated that it conducted two of these road trips
a year. That these activities place an emphasis on the sport of hockey. That they
include people of all ages, 0 people total, two were under the age of 0, seven are
members and the rest not. That the ages are from 0-0. The organization provided that
all their trips include multi-generational participation and 2 or 3 family groups and that
they are one big happy family”.

Trial Balance:

The Trial Balance provided by the organization in response to Information Document
Request #1 listed road trip income of $0 and Road Trip expense of $0.

CHART DELETED

Profit & Loss statement:

The Profit & Loss statement provided by the organization in response to Information
Document Request #1 listed road trip income of $0 and Road Trip expense of
$0.

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
Explanation of Items Exhibit

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

CHART DELETED

Law:

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) provides an exemption for any community
chest, fund, or foundation, 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, 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, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any
candidate for public office.

Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) states that in order to qualify under
section 501(c)(3) of the Code, an organization must be both organized and operated
exclusively for one or more exempt purposes. If an organization fails to meet either the
organizational or operational test, it is not exempt.

Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) provides that an organization will be
regarded as operating exclusively for exempt purposes if it engages primarily in activities
that accomplish 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.

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
Explanation of Items Exhibit

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

Revenue Ruling 67-327, 1967-2 CB 187 - A nonprofit organization formed for the purpose
of arranging group tours for students and faculty of a university to allow them to travel
abroad and which has no other activities is not entitled to exemption from Federal income
tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

In Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C. v. United States, 326 U.S. 279 (1945),
the Supreme Court determined that the presence of a single non-exempt purpose, if
substantial in nature, will destroy exemption under Section 501(c)(3) regardless of the
number or importance of any other exempt purposes.

In Haswell v. United States, 500 F.2d 1133, (Ct. Cl. 1974), cert denied, 419 US 1107
(1975), the court held that 16.6% to 20.5% over a two-year period was a strong indication
of substantiality but that the method of measurement was only one acceptable method of
measurement.

In Malat V. Riddle, 383 U.S. 569 (1966), the court held that the term “primary” means
more than 50%.

Taxpayer’s Position:
Taxpayer's position is unknown at this time.

Government's Position:

That the exempt status of (henceforth referred to as “organization”
“the Organization”) should be revoked, effective July 1, 20XX because it is failed to
meet the operational test under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3).

Under IRC Section 501(c)(3) there are two main tests for qualification for exempt
status: the operational test and the organizational test. In order to be exempt under this
section, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for purposes
described in section 501(c)(3).

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) provides an exemption for any
community chest, fund, or foundation, 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, or for the prevention of
cruelty to children or animals

Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) provides that an organization will be
regarded as operating exclusively for exempt purposes if it engages primarily in
activities that accomplish exempt purposes specified in section 501(c)(3) of the code.

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

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

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

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 organizations activities were evaluated to determine whether the activities met the
definition of charitable as provided by the IRC. In order to be deemed charitable, an
activity must fall under one of the following categories: religious, charitable, scientific,
testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or
international amateur sports competition, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or
animals.

Here the organization conducted the following activities in the year of examination:

• Road Trips ( and )

• Tailgate Parties
• Watch Parties

The description of the activities as provided by the organization demonstrates that only
the Second Skate activities were conducted in furtherance of charitable purposes. The
road trips, tailgate parties, and watch parties were all activities conducted by the
organization in support of the ( ) team, the .
These activities were conducted for the benefit of the individuals to join together in
attending games, watch parties, or tailgate parties and/or the team itself. The
organization conducted activities that substantially bound together individuals by a
common interest directed towards activities that were social in nature for pleasure and
recreational purposes and did not benefit any charitable class of individual. Therefore,
the government has determined that these activities were not charitable in nature and
will be considered non-exempt activities when calculating the organization’s primary
purpose and its activities which are not in furtherance of an exempt purpose.

Here the government reviewed the activities of the organization to ensure that the
organization meets the operational test as outlined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1). The organization stated that it conducted the following activities in
the year of examination:

• Scholarships

• Road Trips ( and )
• Tailgate Parties
• Watch Parties

Per a review of the financials and documentation provided throughout the audit the
organization expended the following amounts for each activity it conducted in the year
of examination:

• ($0.00)

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
Explanation of Items Exhibit

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

• Scholarships ($0.00)

• Road Trips ($0.00)

• Fundraising ($0.00)

• Administrative Expenses ($0.00)

Per review of the profit and loss statement of the organization the organization
expended a total of $0.00 for the year of examination.

Based on the financial information provided, the organization’s exempt activities
(second skate and scholarship activities) totaled 0.00% of its total activities.
Alternatively, the government has calculated the organization’s activities that are not in
furtherance of an exempt purpose to be 0.00% of its total activities based on its
expenditures.

As evaluated on an expenditure basis, the government has determined that the
organization conducts more than an insubstantial amount of its activities that are not in
furtherance of an exempt purpose amount of non-exempt activity and that its primary
purpose no longer continues to be charitable in nature.

The government also reviewed the activities of the organization on the bases of the
number of times they were conducted in the year of examination. As outlined above,
the organization stated that it conducted the following activities in the year of
examination:

• Scholarships

• Road Trips
• Tailgate Parties
• Watch Parties

Per a review of the documentation provided by the organization throughout the audit,
the organization conducted the following activities in the year of examination:

• (One event)

• Scholarships (Not conducted)

• Road Trips (Two Road trips)

• Tailgate Parties (Nine Tailgate Parties)

• Watch Parties (Five Watch Parties)

Based on the information provided, the organization conducted a total of 0 events
throughout the year. The exempt activities that further an exempt purpose (second
skate and scholarship activities) totaled 0.00% of its total activities. Alternatively, the
government has calculated the organization’s activities not in furtherance of an exempt
purpose to be 0.00% of its total activities based on its expenditures.

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
Explanation of Items Exhibit

Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ended

As evaluated on an event basis, the government has determined that the organization
conducts more than an insubstantial amount of its activities that are not in furtherance
of an exempt purpose and that its primary purpose no longer continues to be charitable
in nature.

In order to take both expenditures for activities and number of events conducted into
consideration in one calculation the government has averaged both the exempt and
non-exempt figures calculated above to determine the overall percentage of charitable
versus non-charitable functions as follows:

• Non-exempt: 0.00%

• Exempt: 0.00%

Here, the organization does not meet the requirements of Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) of
the regulations, which requires them to engage primarily in activities which accomplish
one or more exempt purposes. Since the organization is operating substantially for
social and recreational purposes (non-exempt purposes) and are not operating
exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes.

Therefore, it is the position of the government that the organization failed the
operational test under IRC Section 501(c)(3) and should have its exemption revoked
effective July 1, 20XX.

Conclusion:

Based on the facts and information provided, does not qualify for
exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

You failed to establish that you are organized and operated exclusively for exempt
purposes within the meaning as set forth under IRC section 501(c)(3) as you failed to meet
the operational test therein. During our examination we determined that you operate for a
substantial non-exempt, social and recreational purpose, with minimal benefit to the
general public.

Accordingly, your organization's exempt status is revoked effective July 1, 20XX. If
you agree please sign, date, and return the attached Form 6018 by July 17, 20XX

Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, should be filed for the tax periods
after July 1, 20XX.

Form 886-A (Rev.4-68) Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service
Page: -9-