Unrelated business income defined

For most organizations, an activity is an unrelated business (and subject to unrelated business income tax) if it meets three requirements:

1. It is a trade or business,
2. It is regularly carried on, and
3. It is not substantially related to furthering the exempt purpose of the organization.

There are, however, a number of modifications, exclusions, and exceptions to the general definition of unrelated business income.

Additional information

• Publication 598, Tax on Unrelated Business Income of Exempt Organizations PDF
• Exempt organizations continuing professional education text article (1999) PDF