IRS Explains How Groups Can Regain Tax-Exempt Status Following Automatic Revocation.

Part III -- Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

This notice provides guidance with respect to applying for reinstatement of tax-exempt status and requesting retroactive reinstatement under sections 6033(j)(2) and (3) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") for an organization that has had its tax-exempt status automatically revoked under section 6033(j)(1) of the Code. The Treasury Department ("Treasury") and the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") intend to issue regulations under section 6033(j) that will prescribe rules relating to the application for reinstatement of tax-exempt status under section 6033(j)(2) and the request for retroactive reinstatement under section 6033(j)(3). To assist in the drafting of these regulations, Treasury and the IRS solicit comments on the issues addressed in this notice.

In this Bulletin, the IRS has also published Notice 2011-43, which provides transitional relief for certain small organizations (those that normally have annual gross receipts of not more than $50,000 in their most recently completed taxable year) that have lost their tax-exempt status because they failed to file an annual electronic notice for taxable years beginning in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Notice 2011-43 sets forth the criteria for qualifying for the transitional relief and instructions on how qualifying organizations can apply for reinstatement of tax-exempt status retroactive to the date such status was automatically revoked.

SECTION 2. BACKGROUND

In general, section 6033(a)(1) requires an organization exempt from taxation under section 501(a) to file an annual information return, such as a Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, a Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, or a Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Nonexempt Charitable Trust Treated as a Private Foundation. Several categories of tax-exempt organizations, including most organizations (other than private foundations or section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations) whose annual gross receipts are normally not more than $50,000 ($25,000 for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010), are not required to file an annual information return. See I.R.C. § 6033(a)(3); Rev. Proc. 2011-15, 2011-3 I.R.B. 322.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006, Pub. L. No.109-280, 120 Stat. 780, § 1223 (2006) ("PPA"), added sections 6033(i) and (j) to the Code, both of which became effective for taxable years beginning after 2006. Section 6033(i) added an annual notification requirement for tax-exempt organizations that, pursuant to section 6033(a)(3)(A)(ii) or (a)(3)(B), are not required to file an annual information return under section 6033(a)(1) because their gross receipts fall below certain thresholds. An organization satisfies the annual notification requirement under section 6033(i) by filing an annual electronic notice, also known as a Form 990-N e-Postcard. The annual notification requirement is also deemed satisfied if an organization files a complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ. See Treas. Reg. § 1.6033-6(c)(4).

Section 6033(j)(1) automatically revokes the tax-exempt status of any organization described in section 6033(a)(1) that fails to file a required annual return for three consecutive years or any organization described in section 6033(i) that fails to file an annual return or notice for three consecutive years. Revocation under section 6033(j)(1) is effective on and after the date set by the Secretary for the filing of the third annual return or notice.

Section 6033(j)(1) also requires the Secretary to publish and maintain a list of all organizations that have had their tax-exempt statuses revoked under section 6033(j)(1) ("revocation list"). The IRS is publishing such a revocation list on the IRS website (http://www.irs.gov), which it will update monthly. The IRS is also mailing a letter to the last known address of each organization on the revocation list to notify the organization that its tax-exempt status has been revoked under section 6033(j)(1) ("IRS revocation letter").

Section 7428(b)(4), as added by the PPA, provides that an organization may not bring a declaratory judgment action challenging automatic revocation under section 6033(j)(1).

Section 6033(j)(2) provides that any organization that has had its tax-exempt status automatically revoked under section 6033(j)(1) must apply with the IRS in order to obtain reinstatement of its tax-exempt status, regardless of whether the organization was originally required to apply for recognition of its tax exemption. If the application for reinstatement of tax-exempt status is approved, the effective date of the organization's reinstated tax-exempt status generally will be the date the organization filed its application for reinstatement. However, section 6033(j)(3) provides that if, upon application for reinstatement, an organization "can show to the satisfaction of the Secretary evidence of reasonable cause for the failure described in [section 6033(j)(1) ], the organization's exempt status may, in the discretion of the Secretary, be reinstated effective from the date of the revocation."

SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE OF AUTOMATIC REVOCATION

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, the tax-exempt status of any organization that fails to file an annual information return required under section 6033(a)(1) or an electronic notice required under section 6033(i) for three consecutive years is automatically revoked pursuant to section 6033(j)(1) on and after the date set by regulation for the filing of the third annual return or notice, without regard to any extension of time for filing. Sections 1.6033-2(e) and 1.6033-6(f) of the Treasury Regulations generally require annual returns and notices, respectively, to be filed on or before the 15th day of the fifth month following the close of the period for which the return or notice is required to be filed. When the filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday the deadline may be timely satisfied if the filing is made on the next business day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday. See I.R.C. § 7503. Thus, for example, in the case of an organization reporting on a calendar-year basis that did not file a required annual return or notice for 2007, 2008, or 2009, the revocation under section 6033(j)(1) would be effective as of May 17, 2010, given that May 15, 2010 fell on a Saturday.

SECTION 4. APPLICATION FOR REINSTATEMENT OF TAX-EXEMPT STATUS

An organization seeking reinstatement of its tax-exempt status under section 6033(j)(2) must apply using the same forms that are filed by all other applicants for tax exemption. Thus, an organization seeking reinstatement of its tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) must submit Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Most other organizations seeking reinstatement of tax-exempt status must submit Form 1024, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a). Any organization that seeks reinstatement of its tax-exempt status must submit the appropriate application regardless of whether the organization was originally required to apply with the IRS for recognition of tax exemption. For example, if the tax-exempt status of a subordinate organization included in a group exemption letter is automatically revoked under section 6033(j)(1), the subordinate organization must submit an application for reinstatement of its tax-exempt status on its own behalf. In addition, all organizations seeking reinstatement of tax-exempt status must pay the appropriate user fee. See Rev. Proc. 2011-8, 2011-1 I.R.B. 237, section 6.07 or its successor. (Small tax-exempt organizations described in Notice 2011-43 are eligible for a reduced user fee described in Rev. Proc. 2011-36, this Bulletin.)

To facilitate processing of applications for reinstatement of tax-exempt status, organizations should write "automatically revoked" on the top of the application form and on the envelope. For information on where to mail the application for reinstatement of tax-exempt status, see the Instructions for Form 1023 or Form 1024 (whichever is applicable).

SECTION 5. RETROACTIVE REINSTATEMENT

.01 Request for Retroactive Reinstatement

An organization (other than a small organization that qualifies for the transitional relief described in Notice 2011-43) seeking to have its tax-exempt status reinstated effective from the date of automatic revocation pursuant to section 6033(j)(3) must submit a request for retroactive reinstatement with its application for reinstatement of tax-exempt status. The request for retroactive reinstatement must include the following:

(1) A written statement setting forth all of the facts that support its claim for reasonable cause for failing to file a required return or notice in each of the three consecutive years and over the entire consecutive three-year period, including a detailed description of all the facts and circumstances that led to each failure and the continuous failure, the discovery of the failures, and the steps taken to avoid or mitigate the failures;

(2) A written statement describing the safeguards the organization has put into place to ensure that the organization will not fail to file returns or notices in the future;

(3) Evidence to substantiate all material aspects of the written statements described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this section;

(4) Properly completed and executed paper annual information returns (Forms 990, Forms 990-EZ, or Forms 990-PF, whichever is applicable) for all taxable years during and after the consecutive three-year period that the organization was required, but failed, to file an annual information return;

(5) Properly completed and executed Forms 990-EZ for all taxable years during and after the consecutive three-year period that the organization was eligible to file a Form 990-N e-Postcard but failed to file either a Form 990-N e-Postcard or an annual information return; and

(6) An original declaration, dated and signed under penalties of perjury by an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization in the following form:

Because the failure described in section 6033(j)(1) involves a repeated and continuous failure to file annual returns or notices for a consecutive three-year period, an organization seeking retroactive reinstatement under section 6033(j)(3) must demonstrate that it had reasonable cause for failing to file a return or notice not only for each of the three years but also over the entire three-year period. Thus, for example, showing reasonable cause for failing to file a required return or notice for the first of the three years by the date it was due would be insufficient; an organization also would have to show reasonable cause for not filing that return or notice at any later time during the three-year period and for not filing required returns or notices for the second and third years of the three-year period.

In order to establish reasonable cause under section 6033(j)(3), an organization requesting retroactive reinstatement must provide evidence that it exercised ordinary business care and prudence in determining and attempting to comply with its reporting requirements under section 6033 for each of the three years and over the entire three-year period, but was nevertheless unable to file the required returns or notices for three consecutive years. In determining whether the organization establishes reasonable cause, the IRS will take into account all pertinent facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to, the following factors that weigh in favor of finding reasonable cause (with no single factor being either necessary or determinative):

(1) The organization's failure was due to its reasonable, good faith reliance on erroneous written information from the IRS, stating that the organization was not required to file a return or notice under section 6033, provided the IRS was made aware of all relevant facts.

(2) The failure to file the returns or notices arose from events beyond the organization's control ("impediment") that made it impossible for the organization to file returns or notices for each of the three years at issue and over the entire three-year period.

(3) The organization acted in a responsible manner by undertaking significant steps to avoid or mitigate the failure to file the required returns or notices and to prevent similar failures in the future, including, but not limited to --

In determining whether reasonable cause exists, the IRS will only consider a factor on the above list or any other factor (such as the fact that substantially all of an organization's activities are performed by volunteers) if the organization shows to the satisfaction of the IRS evidence to substantiate the factor.

.03 Timing of Request for Retroactive Reinstatement

Except for small organizations that qualify for the transitional relief described in Notice 2011-43, the IRS will, in exercising the discretion granted under section 6033(j)(3), consider an organization's request for retroactive reinstatement only if it submits such a request, together with a properly completed and executed application for reinstatement of its tax-exempt status, within 15 months of the later of the date of the IRS revocation letter or the date on which the IRS posts the name of the organization on the revocation list available on the IRS website (or otherwise provides notice of the revocation to the public).

SECTION 6. SUBSEQUENT AUTOMATIC REVOCATIONS

An organization whose tax-exempt status has been automatically revoked and reinstated may have its tax-exempt status automatically revoked a second time under section 6033(j)(1) only if it fails to file returns or notices for another three consecutive taxable years, beginning with the taxable year the IRS approves its application for reinstatement of tax-exempt status. For example, if an organization reporting on a calendar year basis has its tax-exempt status automatically revoked for failing to file required returns or notices for 2007, 2008, and 2009 and receives a determination letter recognizing the reinstatement of its tax-exempt status dated September 1, 2011, the organization's tax-exempt status will not be automatically revoked a second time for failing to timely file a return or notice for 2008, 2009, and 2010. However, the organization's tax-exempt status will be automatically revoked a second time if the organization fails to timely file a return or notice for 2011, 2012, and 2013.

SECTION 7. PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

The collection of information contained in this notice has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) and approved under OMB control number 1545-2206.

The collection of information in this notice is in section 5. In order to have its tax-exempt status retroactively reinstated under section 6033(j)(3), an organization must show to the satisfaction of the IRS evidence that it exercised ordinary business care and prudence in determining and attempting to comply with its reporting obligations under section 6033 for each of the three years (and over the entire three-year period) that it failed to meet such requirements. This information is necessary for inspection by the IRS in determining whether reasonable cause exists. The collection of information is required to meet the reasonable cause standard under section 6033(j)(3). The likely respondents providing the information required in section 5 of this notice are tax-exempt organizations that have had their tax-exempt statuses automatically revoked under section 6033(j)(1), have applied for reinstatement of such status under section 6033(j)(2), and are seeking that such reinstatement be made retroactive to the date of revocation under section 6033(j)(3).

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.

SECTION 8. REQUEST FOR COMMENTS

Treasury and the IRS request comments regarding this notice and suggestions for future guidance regarding the provisions of section 6033(j). Comments should be submitted on or before August 19, 2011. Please include "Notice 2011-44" on the cover page. Comments should be sent to the following address:

All comments will be available for public inspection and copying.

SECTION 9. DRAFTING INFORMATION

The principal authors of this notice are Monice Rosenbaum and Preston Quesenberry of the Office of Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt and Government Entities) and Matthew Giuliano of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS. However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in developing this notice. For further information regarding this notice, contact Ms. Rosenbaum at (202) 622-6070, Mr. Quesenberry at (202) 622-1124, or Mr. Giuliano at (202) 283-8917 (not toll-free numbers).