IRS Expedites Charity Applications and Urges Use of Existing Charities
As part of the administration’s efforts to bring all available resources to bear to support state and local partners impacted by Hurricane Sandy, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that an expedited review and approval process will be offered for organizations seeking tax-exempt status in order to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy. The IRS also continues to encourage people to use existing organizations currently working on immediate aid efforts.
Organizations should apply for tax-exempt status by filing IRS Form 1023 and write at the top of the form “Disaster Relief, Hurricane Sandy.” The IRS will give such applications expedited attention and ensure they meet the legal requirements for tax exemption. Organizations seeking to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy that have already submitted an application can fax a request labeled “Disaster Relief, Hurricane Sandy” that includes the organization’s name, Employer Identification Number, contact name and phone number to 513-263-4554 in order to be given the same expedited handling.
The IRS reminds people that existing charitable organizations, including churches and other places of worship, are frequently able to administer relief programs more efficiently than newly formed organizations, since they tend to already have fund-raising and distribution infrastructures in place.
The web site of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a list of organizations that provide support to victims of Hurricane Sandy.
For more information on your tax return and charitable donations, visit www.irs.gov. Please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation if you need legal advice.
