Compliance Assistance
Just "having church" is not being a church. A church is not a building; it is a group of people of like beliefs. The organization's Beliefs and Practices Statement is the most important aspect of the new organization. It is a guideline by which the IRS will judge the organization in whether it does what it says it does and its money expended upon the furtherance of the avowed religious purposes.
• No part of the net may inure to the benefit of any individual is a vital aspect of all exempt organizations. What this means is that the organization cannot exist for one person's benefit or one family or certain individuals or groups. (This was the focus of the operations of many in the 70's and 80's and the result was the new revenue ruling restricting donation amounts for "home churches".)
The IRS simply had no choice but to act in this manner. I strongly believe that any organization that applies, and is approved and granted church status would not be restricted by that limited giving revenue ruling. You must seek appropriate counsel for confirmation of that statement.
Let the focus of this discourse be that the IRS is a working partner. The IRS is the gatekeeper of the benefits bestowed by the tax code and tax-exempt status is to be cherished and protected. It is most advisable to seek the assistance of the IRS in deciding the classification of your new organization. The organization has everything to gain utilizing the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service.
• There is one way that I have not discussed which eliminates anxiety and doubt in the establishment of a tax-exempt church or ministry and that is to have the legal paperwork completed by a professional service. El SHADDAI MINISTRIES has been providing this professional service to churches and ministries to comply with all of the regulations and required form submissions for entitlement to tax-exempt status under 501 (c) (3) of the tax code. It is not cheap and currently is about $2,000, but well worth the investment for peace and correct establishment of a new organization.
The ministry maintains an excellent website at www.elshaddai.com/
Thousands of organizations have used this ministry's services over the last 19 years.
The website has a wonderful display of important information and even a downloadable application.
You can receive many pages of information for download or request it by mail - free.
You can write to the organization at:
EL SHADDAI MINISTRIES
PO Box 3, Prairie View, KS 67664
(785) 973-2324 or by FAX at (785) 973-2325
The motto of the EL SHADDAI MINISTRIES is: "We'll help you fulfill your dream or vision," and having professionals do the legal and complicated filing tasks frees up the individual(s) to work on the mission(s) of the new religious organization.
