Based on legislation passed in 2015, the IRS has implemented new requirements for new entities planning to operate as 501(c)4 organizations. These organizations are now required to file a notice of intent to operate as a 501(c)4. You’re only required to file the notice once using Form 8976. The
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In continuing its efforts to better serve the needs of small non-profits (previously discussed here), the IRS has decreased application filing fees for the smallest organizations. In the past, many small non-profits that might otherwise have qualified for an exemption under 501(c)3 chose not to apply for the exemption, determining
Read more →I’ll leave my personal position on the Brexit vote for other arenas. This post will stick to discussing how the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union could affect your intellectual property rights in the UK and the remainder of Europe. First, the good news. For all
Read more →The IRS has announced that, effective February 29, 2016, exempt organizations that required to file Form 990-N will do so through the IRS website – IRS.gov . This form can only be filed online – mailing a paper alternative is not an option. Until now, Form-990 was filed
Read more →The Supreme Court’s decision today confirming same-sex marriages falls well beyond my area of expertise. For that reason, I will readily leave its legal analysis to more capable colleagues. However, as a human, a concerned citizen, an active member of local, national and global communities, I am
Read more →A recent Supreme Court decision involving Marvel Comic‘s Spiderman provides a convenient opportunity to compare patents to superpowers, albeit superpowers with an expiration date. Here’s the background – an inventor creates and patents a real-life webslinger a la your friendly neighborhood Spiderman. When Marvel began selling their own version of
Read more →I’ve been invited by the Professional Legal Trainers Group (PLTG) to participate on a panel entitled “Inside the Lawyer’s Brain“. The panel of attorneys and professional development experts will share valuable insights on presenting technology training to attorney audiences. Prior to entering the practice of law, Zak had a career
Read more →News sources are reporting that Disney‘s long running challenge to the use of ‘mouse ears’ by deadmau5, a world famous electronic music DJ, has been settled. The dispute started when deadmau5 applied to register his stage mask as a trademark. Trademark protection is primarily concerned with avoiding consumer confusion. It
Read more →IRS efforts to accelerate review of tax exempt applications appear to be paying off. One recent report suggests the backlog, which once exceeded 60,000 pending applications, is now current. At one time, it was not unusual for an organization to wait nearly a year before receiving any inquiries
Read more →Excellent @DanceNYC #townhall last night on NY Nonprofit Revitalization Act! Important changes for all #NfPs to keep in mind.
Read more →My office has recently fielded a flood of questions about Fair Use across a range of contexts – using a recording of a documentary subject using software on her computer; posting thumbnails on a website; sharing recipes and ingredient lists; and, most recently, artists asking whether the art they share
Read more →Zak Shusterman, along with colleagues committed to providing pro bono legal services to their communities, was recognized this morning at an event honoring attorneys who have volunteered with the Pro Bono Partnership. The Pro Bono Partnership provides free business and transactional legal services to nonprofit organizations serving the
Read more →I have been invited to once again guest lecture at the New School‘s course on social entrepreneurship. Social enterprises, operated by social entrepreneurs, are business entities formed with the primary goal of doing some good in their immediate communities or affecting individuals across the globe. This innovative course guides
Read more →Any tax exempt organizations (e.g., 501(c)(3) nonprofits) that file their annual form 990, 990-N, or 990-EZ online should pay special attention to this security alert issued by the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS). According to the alert: “an unauthorized party or parties have gained access to the Form 990
Read more →Important changes are coming for US design patents. These changes will be a great boon to US applicants, making it possible to use a single application to simultaneously seek protection of their designs in dozens of countries around the world. This change comes as the US took measures last week
Read more →Many non-profits are formed for charitable purposes in other countries – disaster relief, preserving native eco-systems, supporting refugees, etc. There is nothing questionable about wanting to make the world a better place, even when that part of the world is far away. However, because there are so many
Read more →Congratulations to client Corbin Hill Food Project on being awarded Innovation of the Year. The award was presented to founder Dennis Derryck by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) at its 2015 Big Apple Innovation Awards on January 14, 2015. Honored alongside Corbin Hill was Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association,
Read more →Earlier this month, the IRS issued revised procedures for several important matters affecting exempt organizations (including those commonly referred to nonprofits). In particular, some of these revisions address the new streamlined application for tax exempt status. Qualifying organizations may be able to save themselves considerable time and expenses
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INSIGHT: Decoding your exemption letter: 501(c)(3) exemption and public charity status
I frequently get questions about decoding a non-profit’s tax-exempt status because the determination letter they’ve received from the IRS has a section at the top that lists “Public Charity Status” as 509(a)…, 170(b)…, or similar, and not the anticipated 501(c)3. A closer look at the first line of the exemption