CHAPTER THREE Tax Exemption: Source and Recognition
§ 3.2 Recognition of Tax Exemption
§ 3.3 Recognition of Public Charity, Private Foundation Status
§ 3.2 RECOGNITION OF TAX EXEMPTION
(a) General Rules
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§ 3.3 RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC CHARITY, PRIVATE FOUNDATION STATUS
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p. 38, note 51. Delete 2018‐5, 2018‐1 I.R.B. 235 and insert 2020‐5, 2020‐1 I.R.B. 241.
CHAPTER FOUR Organizational, Operational, and Related Tests and Doctrines
§ 4.1 Forms of Tax‐Exempt Organizations (a) General Rules
§ 4.9 Commerciality Doctrine (e) Other Applications of Doctrine (f) Elements of Commerciality (g) IRS Ruling Policy (h) Contemporary Perspective on Doctrine
§ 4.1 FORMS OF TAX‐EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS
(a) General Rules
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Lloyd v. Comm'r, T.C. Memo. 2020‐92 (2020);.
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An example, however, of a nonentity qualifying as a tax‐exempt organization (a custodial individual retirement account) is in Lakeview Devel. Corp. v. UBS Financial Servs., Inc., 614 B.R. 603 (Bank. Ct. for D. Col. 2020)).
§ 4.7 COMMENSURATE TEST
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Shortly thereafter, the IRS recognized tax exemption for an organization that carried “on no operations other than to receive contributions and incidental investment income and to make distributions of income to such exempt organizations [charitable entities] at periodic intervals.” Rev. Rul. 67‐149, 1967‐1 C.B. 133.
§ 4.9 COMMERCIALITY DOCTRINE
(e) Other Applications of Doctrine
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An organization that was ruled to be charitable because it produced plays in a theater had its exemption revoked because it ceased educating the public in the theater arts and began hosting tribute band concerts, which the IRS not surprisingly found to be a commercial undertaking.330.1
(f) Elements of Commerciality
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336.1
Charitable organizations generally derive about 73 percent of their revenue from fee‐for‐service activities, while charitable contributions constitute approximately 13 percent of total revenue (e.g., § 2.1, text accompanied by note 66.2).
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340.1
The IRS attempted to retroactively revoke the tax‐exempt status of a charitable organization affiliated with a for‐profit company with more than 2,000 bakery‐café locations in the United States, principally on the ground that it provided food and drink to the public in affluent areas (Priv. Ltr. Rul. 201911010). This case was filed in the U.S. Tax Court on March 15, 2019 (Panera Bread Found., Inc. v. Comm'r, Docket No. 5198‐19X). The organization operated Panera Cares Cafes in five of these locations, providing food and drink to the poor and distressed, job training to high‐risk individuals and those with developmental disabilities, and information to the public regarding food insecurity. The cafes ceased operations, leading the court to, on March 24, 2020, issue a stipulated opinion enabling the organization to retain its exempt status.
(g) IRS Ruling Policy
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an organization that provides consulting and research services on a fee basis regarding climate change and green economies, connecting member entrepreneurs and companies with investment opportunities;359.1 an organization operating a farmers' market;359.2an organization that leases modified property to disabled individuals, for the purpose of advertising for businesses;359.3 and an organization managing funds for fees, seeking highest possible returns for its clients.359.4
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In an extraordinary application of the commerciality doctrine, a nonprofit organization formed to combat organized theft and fraud that supports opioid and heroin addiction, by utilizing innovative software in conjunction with retailers and law enforcement agencies, was denied recognition of exemption as a charitable entity, with the IRS invoking the doctrine by characterizing the organization as merely providing a “service for a fee to retail stores.”360.1 The better analysis would have been to recognize exemption as an entity promoting health360.2 and lessening the burdens of government,