Publication 557 (06/2008), Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization

IRS Resources

Publication 557 - Introductory Material

Table of Contents

What's New

On August 17, 2006, the President signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The new law contains numerous changes to the tax law provisions affecting tax-exempt organizations. Unless otherwise noted, most of the changes listed below are effective on this date.
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.
Increase in excise taxes relating to public charities, social welfare organizations, and private foundations.
Additional standards for credit counseling organizations.
Definition of convention or association of churches has been modified.
New notification requirements for entities not currently required to file. New Form 990-N for small exempt organizations.
Requirements of disclosure to state officials relating to exempt organizations has been modified.
Excise taxes imposed for excess benefit transactions involving donor advised funds and sponsoring organizations.
Supporting organizations requirements modified.
New excise taxes on Prohibited Tax Shelter Transactions.
For tax years ending on or after December 31, 2006, organizations that have total assets of $10 million or more are required to file Form 990 electronically.
The definition of gross receipts for purposes of determining whether small insurance companies qualify as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(15) has changed.

Introduction

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 1 provides general information about the procedures for obtaining recognition of tax-exempt status.

Chapter 2 contains information about annual filing requirements and other matters that may affect your organization's tax-exempt status.

Chapter 3 contains detailed information on various matters affecting section 501(c)(3) organizations, including a section on the determination of private foundation status.

Chapter 4 includes separate sections for specific types of organizations described in section 501(c).

Chapter 5 provides information on when excise taxes may be imposed.

Organizations not discussed in this publication. 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)
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.

Likewise, 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 Internal Revenue Service (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.

Organization Reference Chart. 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.

Comments and suggestions. We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.

You can e-mail us while visiting our website at www.irs.gov.

You can write to us at the following address:

Internal Revenue Service
TEGE & Specialty 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 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Prev	Up	Next
	Home

More Online Publications