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The requirements of Rev. Proc: 75-50 remain in effect and must be complied with by all <br /> schools listed in the OCD . Diocesan or school officials should insure that the requirements <br /> of Rev. Proc. 75-50 are met since failure to do so could jeopardize the exempt status of <br /> the school and, in the case of a school operated by a church, the exempt status of the <br /> church itself. <br /> 9 . Lobbying Activities . Organizations included in the OCD may lobby for changes <br /> in the law, provided such lobbying is not more than an insubstantial part of their total activities . <br /> Attempts to influence legislation both directly and through grassroots lobbying are subject to this <br /> restriction . The term " lobbying " includes activities in support of or in opposition to referenda , <br /> constitutional amendments , and similar ballot initiatives . There is no distinction between <br /> lobbying activity that is related to an organization 's exempt purposes and lobbying that is not . <br /> There is no fixed percentage that constitutes a safe harbor for " insubstantial " lobbying . Please <br /> refer to your attorney any questions you may have about permissible lobbying activities . <br /> 10 . Political Activities . Organizations included in the Group Ruling may not <br /> participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any <br /> candidate for public office. Violation of the prohibition against political activity can <br /> jeopardize the organization 's tax-exempt status. In addition to revoking exempt status , IRS <br /> may also impose excise taxes on an exempt organization and its managers on account of <br /> political expenditures . Where there has been a flagrant violation , IRS has authority to seek an <br /> injunction against the exempt organization and immediate assessment of taxes due . If you have <br /> any questions in this regard , please refer them to your attorney. ( See OGC Memo dated <br /> February 29 , 2000 , which is available at www. usccb . org/ogc . ) <br /> 11 . _Public Charity Status . The latest Group Ruling affirms that organizations <br /> included in the OCD are not private foundations under section 509 (a ) of the Code . However, the <br /> Group Ruling does not identify the subsection of section 509 (a ) under which a particular <br /> organization is classified as a public charity. Organizations must determine for themselves <br /> whether they qualify for such status under the provisions of section 509 (a ) ( 1 ) , (a ) (2 ) or (a ) ( 3 ) . <br /> Newly-created or newly-affiliated organizations must establish that they are not private <br /> foundations as a condition of inclusion in the Group Ruling and OCD . <br /> 12 . _Group Exemption Number. The group exemption number assigned to USCC is <br /> 928 or 0928 . This number must be included on each Form 990, Form 990- T, and Form <br /> 5578 required to be filed by any organization exempt under the Group Ruling. !' We <br /> recommend against using the group exemption number on Form SS-4 , Request for Employer <br /> Identification Number, because in the past this has resulted in IRS including USCCB as part of <br /> the organization 's name when it enters the organization in its database . <br /> 14 IRS has expressed concem about organizations covered under the Group Ruling that fail to <br /> include the group exemption number, 0928, on their Form 990 flings, particularly the initial <br /> filing. <br />