IRS Releases Form for Tax-Exempt Status Determinations

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a new form that tax-exempt organizations can use to request determinations about their tax-exempt status. In addition to requesting their tax-exempt status from the IRS, organizations can also use the new form, known as Form 8940, “Request for Miscellaneous Determination,” to get advance approval of certain activities and an exemption from the filing requirements for Form 990. Organizations that are applying for recognition of an exemption and at the same time requesting advance approval of scholarship procedures or an exception from filing Form 990 should include the request with their Form 1023, “Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3),” rather than file Form 8940, the IRS advised in an email alert Monday.

The simple one-page form is accompanied by instructions that specify the information required to support each of the nine types of requests that may be submitted.

The IRS also reminded organizations that a user fee must accompany most requests. For more information, see the Web page about the new form on IRS.gov.