taxmap/pubs/p557-000.htm#en_us_publink1000199811taxmap/pubs/p557-000.htm#en_us_publink1000257407Automatic revocation for not filing annual return or notice.
(p2)
For annual tax periods beginning after 2006, the law requires most tax-exempt
organizations, other than churches, to file an annual Form 990, 990-EZ, or
990-PF with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or to submit an annual
electronic notice, Form 990-N (e-Postcard), to the IRS. If an organization fails to file an annual return or submit an annual notice as required for 3 consecutive years, it will automatically lose its tax-exempt
status.
A list of revoked organizations can be found on IRS.gov. For more information, see
Automatic Revocation, later.
Final regulations under sections 170, 507, 509, 6033, and 6043 affect tax-exempt
organizations required to file an annual return under section 6033 of the Code.
The regulations provide guidance relating to the elimination of the advance
ruling process for new organizations and change in public support computation,
procedures for organizations seeking classification as public charities, and
guidance regarding the reporting of other information required on the annual
return. See T.D. 9549, IRB No. 2011-46, November 14, 2011, for details.
Redesigned Form 990 and Instructions.
(p2)
The Form 990 has been redesigned for 2008 and later years. The new form consists
of a 12-page, 12-part core form that is required to be completed by all
organizations that file Form 990. It also consists of 16 schedules to be
completed by those organizations that satisfy the applicable requirements for
each schedule. It includes a fully redesigned Schedule H,
Hospitals, due to the recent passage of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted March 23, 2010, Pub. L. No.
111-148.
Elimination of the advance public charity status.
(p2)
New regulations eliminate the advance ruling process for a section 501(c)(3)
organization. Under the new regulations, a new section 501(c)(3) organization
will be classified as a publicly supported organization and not a private
foundation if it can show when it applies for tax-exempt status that it
reasonably can be expected to be publicly supported. The new rules no longer
require the organization to file Form 8734 after completing its first 5 tax
years. The new rules apply to organizations with advance rulings expiring on or
after June 9, 2008. See
Elimination of the advance public charity status, later.
Report significant new or changed program services and changes to organizational
documents.
(p2)
An organization should report new significant program services or significant
changes in how it conducts program services, and significant changes to its
organizational documents, on its Form 990, rather than in a letter to the IRS
Exempt Organizations Determinations (EO Determinations). EO Determinations no
longer issues letters confirming the tax-exempt status of organizations that
report new services or significant changes, or changes to organizational
documents. See
Report significant new or changed program services and changes to
organizational, later.
Publication 78–Update on Revocation List of Exempt Organizations.
(p2)The IRS has issued a Revocation List of Exempt Organizations due to the fact that they have not filed tax returns for three consecutive years. See electronic only version of Publication 78, for details. See also Rev. Proc. 2011-33, 2011-25 I.R.B.
887.
Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan program (CO-OP program)
released.
(p2)Notice 2011-23, 2011-23 I.R.B. 588, provides guidance on requirements for tax-exempt section 501(c)(29) qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers. See Notice 2011-23 for more information,
Notice 2011-23
, 2011-23 I.R.B. 588.
Accountable Care Organizations (ACO).
(p2)The ACA establishes a Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) which encourages ACOs to facilitate cooperation among providers to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries and reduce unnecessary costs. See IRS.gov and then select the ACA page. See also
Notice 2011-20, 2011-16 I.R.B. 652, for more information on ACOs.
The IRS has created a page on IRS.gov for information about Publication 557, at
www.irs.gov/pub557. Information about any future developments affecting Publication 557 (such as legislation enacted after we release it) will be posted on that
page.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
(p2)
The ACA added several new laws. This includes a new excise tax on indoor tanning
services, a small business health care tax credit, additional requirements for
tax-exempt hospitals, and the section 501(c)(29) CO-OP program. For more
information, go to IRS.gov and select Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions.
Electronic filing requirement for large organizations.
(p2)For tax years ending on or after December 31, 2006, only organizations that file 250 returns during the calendar year and that have total assets of $10 million or more are required to file Form 990 electronically. For more information, go to
e-file for Charities and Non-Profits.
Section 501(c)(15) gross receipts.
(p3)
The definition of gross receipts for purposes of determining whether small
insurance companies qualify as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(15) has changed.
See Notice 2006-42, 2006-19 I.R.B. 878,
Notice 2006-42.
Prohibited tax shelter transactions.
(p3)Pension Protection Act of 2006 tax changes.
(p3)
- The Pension Protection Act of 2006 made numerous changes to the tax law provisions affecting tax-exempt organizations. Unless otherwise noted, most of the changes became effective on August 17, 2006. For key provisions, go to
The Pension Protection Act of 2006.
Section 501(c)(3) organizations must make their Form 990-T open for public inspection for a period of 3 years from the date the Form 990-T is required to be filed (determined with regard to any extension of time for filing) or is actually filed, whichever is
later.
There is an increase in excise taxes relating to public charities, social welfare organizations, and private
foundations.
There are additional standards for credit counseling organizations.
The definition of convention or association of churches has been
modified.
Entities that are not required to file Form 990 or 990-EZ must file new Form 990-N, Electronic Notice
(e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations Not Required to File Form 990 or
990-EZ.
The requirements of disclosure to state officials relating to exempt organizations has been
modified.
There are excise taxes imposed on excess benefit transactions involving donor advised funds and sponsoring
organizations.
There are new excise taxes on prohibited tax shelter transactions.
This publication discusses the rules and procedures for organizations that seek recognition of exemption from federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). It explains the procedures you must follow to obtain an appropriate ruling or determination letter recognizing your organization's exemption, as well as certain other information that applies generally to all exempt organizations. To qualify for exemption under the Code, your organization must be organized for one or more of the purposes specifically designated in the Code. Organizations that are exempt under section 501(a) include those organizations described in section 501(c). Section 501(c) organizations are covered in this
publication.
Chapter 3,
Section 501(c)(3) Organizations, contains detailed information on various matters affecting section 501(c)(3) organizations, including a section on the determination of private foundation
status.
Chapter 5,
Excise Taxes, provides information on when excise taxes may be imposed.
Certain organizations that may qualify for exemption are not discussed in this publication, although they are included in the
Organization Reference Chart. These organizations (and the Code sections that apply to them) are as follows.
| Corporations organized under Acts of Congress | 501(c)(1) |
| Teachers' retirement fund associations | 501(c)(11) |
| Mutual insurance companies | 501(c)(15) |
| Corporations organized to finance crop operations | 501(c)(16) |
| Employee funded pension trusts (created before June 25, 1959) | 501(c)(18) |
| Withdrawal liability payment fund | 501(c)(22) |
| Veterans' organizations (created before 1880) | 501(c)(23) |
| National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust | 501(c)(28) |
| CO-OP health insurance issuers | 501(c)(29) |
| Religious and apostolic associations | 501(d) |
| Cooperative hospital service organizations | 501(e) |
| Cooperative service organizations of operating educational
organizations | 501(f) |
Section 501(c)(24) organizations (section 4049 ERISA trusts) are neither discussed in the text nor listed in the
Organization Reference Chart.
Similarly, farmers' cooperative associations that qualify for exemption under section 521, qualified state tuition programs described in section 529, and pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans described in section 401(a) are not discussed in this publication. If you think your organization falls within one of these categories, contact the IRS for any additional information you need. For telephone assistance, call
1-877-829-5500.
Check the
Table of Contents
at the beginning of this publication to determine whether your organization is described in this publication. If it is, read the chapter (or section) that applies to your type of organization for the specific information you must give when applying for recognition of
exemption.
taxmap/pubs/p557-000.htm#en_us_publink1000199815
This chart
enables you to locate at a glance the section of the Code under which your
organization might qualify for exemption. It also shows the required application
form and, if your organization meets the exemption requirements, the annual
return to be filed (if any), and whether or not a contribution to your
organization will be deductible by a donor. It also describes each type of
qualifying organization and the general nature of its activities.
You may use
this chart
to determine the Code section that you think applies to your organization. Any
correspondence with the IRS (in requesting forms or otherwise) will be expedited
if you indicate in your correspondence the appropriate Code section. Check the
IRS website, IRS.gov, for the latest updates. Tax Information for Charities
& Other Non-Profits,
www.irs.gov/charities/index.html.We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future
editions.
You can e-mail us while visiting our website at IRS.gov.
You can write to us at the following address:
Internal Revenue Service
TEGE and Specialty Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526
Washington, DC 20224
We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number, including the area code, in your
correspondence.
If you wish telephone assistance, please call 1-877-829-5500. This toll-free telephone service is available Monday through Friday.
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