An important question:
Do churches need a 501c3?
For places of worship (churches, mosques, synagogues, and others) the recurring question is whether these entities need to acquire tax-exempt status. In other words do they need to acquire the 501c3? Under federal law (and related laws in all fifty states), a place of worship is automatically tax-exempt by definition.
HOWEVER, IF A PLACE OF WORSHIP....
...SEEKS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BEYOND NORMAL WORSHIP ACTIVITIES, THEN IT IS ADVISABLE THAT THEY ACQUIRE THE 501C3 STATUS. AUTOMATIC TAX-EXEMPT STATUS FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP DOES NOT APPLY TO SERVICES BEYOND NORMAL WORSHIP RELATED ACTIVITIES. SO IF, FOR EXAMPLE, A CHURCH HAS OR PLANS TO OFFER "OUTREACH" SERVICES SUCH AS HOMELESS SHELTERS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS, JOBS TRAINING PROGRAMS, AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING, YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES OR ANY PROGRAMS BEYOND NORMAL WORSHIP ACTIVITES THEN IT SHOULD ACQUIRE THE 501C3 TAX-EXEMPT STATUS TO AVOID RUNNING AFOUL OF TAX-EXEMPT LAWS AND GUIDELINES.
QUESTIONS? GIVE US A CALL The 501c3 People are here to guide you
(770) 313-7793.
