Private Letter Ruling
Number: 202034012
Internal Revenue Service
May 26, 2020
   
   
   
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Tax Exempt and Government Entities
PO Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201
   
Number: 202034012
Release Date: 8/21/2020
   
Date:
May 26, 2020
Employer ID number:
Form you must file:
Tax years:
Person to contact:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:
   
UIL: 501.00-00, 501.07-00
   
Dear *******:
   
This letter is our final determination that you don't qualify for exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a) as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(7). Recently, we sent you a proposed adverse determination in response to your application. The proposed adverse determination explained the facts, law, and basis for our conclusion, and it gave you 30 days to file a protest. Because we didn't receive a protest within the required 30 days, the proposed determination is now final.
   
You must file the federal income tax forms for the tax years shown above within 30 days from the date of this letter unless you request an extension of time to file. For further instructions, forms, and information, visit www.irs.gov.
   
We'll make this final adverse determination letter and the proposed adverse determination letter available for public inspection after deleting certain identifying information, as required by IRC Section 6110. Read the enclosed Notice 437, Notice of Intention to Disclose, and review the two attached letters that show our proposed deletions. If you disagree with our proposed deletions, follow the instructions in the Notice 437 on how to notify us. If you agree with our deletions, you don't need to take any further action.
   
If you have questions about this letter, you can call the contact person shown above. If you have questions about your federal income tax status and responsibilities, call our customer service number at 800-829-1040 (TTY 800-829-4933 for deaf or hard of hearing) or customer service for businesses at 800-829-4933.
   
Sincerely,
   
Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements
   
Enclosures:
Notice 437
Redacted Letter 4034
Redacted Letter 4038
   
   
   
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201
   
Date:
March 5, 2020
Employer ID number:
Contact person/ID number:
Contact telephone number:
Contact fax number:
   
UIL:
501.00-00
501.07-00
   
Legend:
B = state
C = date
D = organization
   
Dear *******:
   
We considered your application for recognition of exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a). We determined that you don't qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(7). This letter explains the reasons for our conclusion. Please keep it for your records.
   
Issues   
Do you qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(7)? No, for the reasons stated below.
   
Facts   
You were incorporated in the state of B as a non-profit corporation on C. Your Articles of Incorporation state that you are organized for purposes of cultural, educational, charitable, athletic and other non-profit, non-political social and economic activities with the scope of D.
   
Your application did not include a narrative description of your activities, a name and telephone number of a contact person, financial data or a completed schedule D. Additionally, most questions on the form were left unanswered. In our first letter we asked you to provide a narrative of your activities, a name and telephone number of a contact person and to provide a completed Schedule D of the 1024 application. Your response to our first letter included page 2 of form 1024 and a completed Schedule D. The statement written on page 2 of the 1024 application described your activities as "helping people who one needed". However, you did not provide a name and number of a contact person. Since we were not able to fully discern the nature of the organization's activities from its response, a second letter was sent. In our second letter we asked you to provide additional details regarding your activities, a name and telephone number of a contact person, and financial data. Your response to our second letter included page 2 of the 1024 application which described your activities as "helping people who one needed" with additional materials that were provided with your initial application. You also indicated you were "organized for purposes of cultural, educational, charitable, athletic and other non-profit, non-political social and economic activities within the scope of D". Again, you did not provide a name and telephone number of a contact person or the financial data requested, or sufficiently describe your activities.
   
Law   
IRC Section 501(c)(7) exempts from federal income tax, clubs organized for pleasure, recreation, and other nonprofitable purposes, substantially all of the activities of which are for such purposes and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder.
   
Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(7)-1(a) states that in general, this exemption extends to social and recreation clubs which are supported solely by membership fees, dues and assessments.
   
Revenue Procedure 2019-5, 2019-1 I.R.B. 233, Section 3 states that a determination letter or ruling on exempt status is issued based solely upon the facts and representations contained in the administrative record. The applicant is responsible for the accuracy of any factual representations contained in the application. Section 6 (and its predecessors) provides that a favorable determination letter or ruling will be issued to an organization only if its application and supporting documents establish that it meets the particular requirements of the section under which exemption from federal income tax is claimed.
   
In Universal Life Church v. United States, 372 F.Supp. 770 (E.D.Cal. 1974), the court concluded that "one seeking a tax exemption has the burden of establishing his right to a tax-exempt status."
   
Pius XII Academy, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1982-97, affd. 711 F.2d 1058 (6th Cir. 1983), provides that an organization must establish through the administrative record that it operates as an exempt organization. Denial of exemption may be based solely upon failure to provide information describing in adequate detail how the operational test will be met.
   
In La Verdad v. Commissioner, 82 T.C. 215 (1984), the administrative record did not demonstrate that the organization would operate exclusively in furtherance of an exempt purpose. Therefore, denial of organization's request for tax-exempt status was reasonable.
   
New Dynamics Foundation v. United States, 70 Fed.Cl. 782 (2006), was an action for declaratory judgment that the petitioner brought to challenge the denial of his application for exempt status. The court, in finding that the actual purposes displayed in the administrative record supported the Service's denial, stated "It is well-accepted that, in initial qualification cases such as this, gaps in the administrative record are resolved against the applicant." The court noted that if the petitioner had evidence that contradicted these findings, it should have submitted it as part of the administrative process. The court also highlighted the principle that exemptions from income tax are matters of legislative grace.
   
Ohio Disability Association v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2009-261 (2009), states denial is justified because responses to requests for additional information failed to supplement the initial application or clarify purposes and activities, and generalizations did not provide sufficient detail to determine that the organization would be operated exclusively for exempt purposes.
   
Application of law   
Based on the information submitted, you have failed to establish that you are organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes within the meaning of IRC Section 501(c)(7) and the related income tax regulations. As such, we are unable to determine you are primarily organized for pleasure, recreation, and other non-profitable purposes under Treas.Reg. Section 1.501(c)(7)-1(a).
   
A ruling on exempt status is based solely on facts and representations in the administrative file. You did not provide sufficient facts in your application and the additional information you provided did not establish that you are entitled to exempt status since you did not provide a detailed narrative of your activities. Therefore, you did not provide sufficient documentation to establish that you meet the requirements of IRC Section 501(c)(7) as required by Revenue Procedure 2019-5. As in Universal Life Church, you have the burden of establishing that you qualify for tax exemption.
   
In Pius XII Academy, Inc., La Verdad, and New Dynamics Foundation, it was established that an organization must establish, through its administrative record, that it meets the requirements for exemption. Because you failed to provide sufficient details in your initial application and the additional information you provided did not meet the statutory and regulatory requirements for exemption, you have not established that you meet the requirements for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(7). As provided in New Dynamics Foundation, any gaps in the administrative record will be resolved against the applicant. Similarly, in Ohio Disability Association, the court found that even when additional information was provided, but it contained generalizations and failed to clarify purposes, denial is justified. You did not provide supplemental information; therefore, we are unable to determine that you qualify for exemption.
   
Conclusion   
Based on the information submitted, we conclude that you are not described in IRC Section 501(c)(7). You did not establish that you are primarily organized for pleasure, recreation, or other non-profitable purposes. Therefore, you do not qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(7).
   
If you agree   
If you agree with our proposed adverse determination, you don't need to do anything. If we don't hear from you within 30 days, we'll issue a final adverse determination letter. That letter will provide information on your income tax filing requirements.
   
If you don't agree   
You have a right to protest if you don't agree with our proposed adverse determination. To do so, send us a protest within 30 days of the date of this letter. You must include:
   
- Your name, address, employer identification number (EIN), and a daytime phone number
   
- A statement of the facts, law, and arguments supporting your position
   
- A statement indicating whether you are requesting an Appeals Office conference
   
- The signature of an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization or your authorized representative
   
- The following declaration:
   
For an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization: Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this request, or this modification to the request, including accompanying documents, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the request or the modification contains all relevant facts relating to the request, and such facts are true, correct, and complete.
   
Your representative (attorney, certified public accountant, or other individual enrolled to practice before the IRS) must file a Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, with us if they haven't already done so. You can find more information about representation in Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney.
   
We'll review your protest statement and decide if you gave us a basis to reconsider our determination. If so, we'll continue to process your case considering the information you provided. If you haven't given us a basis for reconsideration, we'll send your case to the Appeals Office and notify you. You can find more information in Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Decision on Tax-Exempt Status.
   
If you don't file a protest within 30 days, you can't seek a declaratory judgment in court later because the law requires that you use the IRC administrative process first (IRC Section 7428(b)(2)).
   
Where to send your protest   
Send your protest, Form 2848, if applicable, and any supporting documents to the applicable address:
   
U.S. mail:
Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
Mail Stop 6403
P.O. Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201
   
Street address for delivery service:
Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
550 Main Street, Mail Stop 6403
Cincinnati, OH 45202
   
You can also fax your protest and supporting documents to the fax number listed at the top of this letter. If you fax your statement, please contact the person listed at the top of this letter to confirm that they received it.
   
You can get 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 listed at the top of this letter.
   
Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service   
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 if 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.
   
Sincerely,
   
Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements