Is the IRS hassling your Seattle church? You can either hire some fancy tax experts, or you can attend the free online workshop to learn how to comply.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has an Internet-based version of its popular Exempt Organizations Workshop covering tax compliance issues encountered by small and mid-sized tax-exempt organizations, including charities and churches. The target audience for the free online workshop, Stay Exempt - Tax Basics for 501(c)(3)s, is organizations that have no tax experts on staff or have no or limited contact with outside advisors on tax compliance issues. The workshop consists of five interactive modules on tax compliance topics. Users also will find dozens of links to IRS forms and publications that provide details about the topics in the modules.
The IRS has added four additional Life Cycles web-based information tools, to help guide tax-exempt organizations through the federal tax rules and requirements that pertain to them. The new tools, patterned after existing life cycles for public charities and private foundations, provide easy navigation through the IRS web site for:
- Social welfare organizations - under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(4).
- Labor organizations - 501(c)(5).
- Agricultural and horticultural organizations, such as farm bureaus - 501(c)(5).
- Trade associations and other business leagues - 501(c)(6).
Each life cycle provides a graphical snapshot of five stages organizations typically go through during their existence: starting the organization, applying for tax-exempt status, filing required returns and other documents, maintaining compliance, and terminating the organization.
The additional four life cycles explain a number of issues, such as how to acquire an Employer Identification Number; how to avoid jeopardizing an organization's exemption; how political campaign involvement could affect the organization's status and tax responsibilities; and how disclosure requirements must be met.
Publication 1828 - Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations (.PDF document) is now available. You may also view the frequently asked questions or the life cycle of an exempt organization web pages for more information.
Please note: To view and print .PDF documents, you must use the Adobe Reader software, which is available for download without charge.