Administrative Assistance

COST TO FORM YOUR CORPORATION AND OBTAIN YOUR 501(C )(3) EXEMPTION RULING LETTER:

* The church is NOT required to file the IRS Form 1023. The church is automatically 501(c)(3) and exempt from federal income tax, IF it is structured properly. **See Below
We have written on this in some detail in "The Church Administration ‘How To’ Manual," Chapter 3: pages 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The Para-church organization IS required to file the Form 1023 within 27 months. What is a Para-church? It is any ministry that is not structured to specifically be a church.

HAVING SAID THAT, there is some value in the church filing the Form 1023. The benefits are:

1. More easily able to get the church property off the tax rolls; [Some tax assessors require the church to produce a "Determination Letter," and yet most do not. Check in your area to see what is required.
2. To obtain a Bulk Mailing Permit from the postal service, they will require you to furnish an IRS Determination Letter. If you don’t have a letter, you cannot have a bulk mailing permit.
3. If someone is developing an estate plan, and wants to leave the ministry funds, the "Estate Planner" may insist on seeing the churches IRS Determination letter.
4. If the ministry wants to apply for Grants, or other "Faith based" funds you are required to have an IRS "Determination Letter," to qualify.

Any other "Benefits" in having this letter are quite minimal, but remember – you can always get the letter at a later time, with no penalties, if you ever feel a need to do so.

POINT – It is an expense you do not have to face in the start up phase of your church.

THE "START UP COSTS" for a new church can be as low as $150.00

** You can easily determine this fact for yourself by looking at the IRS's instruction sheet on how to fill out this Form.   <http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf>  Look carefully on the first page of the instruction sheet, left hand side. See:

PURPOSE OF FORM.  -  Below that read:

1.      "Completed form 1023 is required for section 501 (c)(3), unless it meets one of the exemptions in 2 below:"

2.      "Organizations not required to file Form 1023, - The following types of organizations may be considered tax-exempt under section 501 (c)(3), even if they do not file Form 1023:

1.     Churches, including synagogues, temples and Mosques

2.     Integrated auxiliaries of churches and conventions or associations of churches, or  ……... “
NOTE – The author has underlined the points above for emphasis only. 

SUMMARY:  As shown in the IRS’ own printed word – the church is exempt of all taxes, even if  they do not file the Form 1023.

If you would like more information about similar issues, please consider "The Church Administration 'How To' Manual" This Manual, endorsed by three CPA's, an EA and two attorneys, was updated in June 2007, for the 8th time, since its original publication in 1991

The above information is provided as a service to the Body of Christ by ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE – Rev. Don L. & Barbara E. Buckel, Directors. 8419 Vista del Cajon Pl. Lakeside, CA. 92040  don@admin-assist.com. Please feel free to call us at 619/443-5221. Please allow for West coast time zones, and call after 8:00AM PST   

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