Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
As a Georgia nonprofit: (a) do we pay sales tax on items we buy? (b) do we have to charge sales tax on items we sell? and (c) do we have to charge sales tax on fundraising activities including admissions to our galas, golf tournaments, and fun runs? Much of the time, the answer is …
Many small nonprofits have close ties to separate for-profit corporations. – Does a for-profit provide a lot of your 501(c)(3)’s support? – Was your 501(c)(3) public charity started by a for-profit entity that does similar or connected work to your 501(c)(3)? – Do you share clients or refer clients to one another? These scenarios, plus …
Attracting and retaining the right talent to provide leadership can have a significant impact on how dynamically a nonprofit organization is able to meet the needs of its community. While there are many methods for providing benefits to executives, one primary focus for attracting talent is designing attractive compensation packages. However, compensation for employees of …
Nonprofit organizations that hold fundraisers or sell merchandise must be cognizant of sales tax collection obligations. Many nonprofit organizations think that they are not obligated to collect sales tax. Perhaps they believe that they are not required to collect tax because they do not routinely sell products or tickets. Some organizations think that their exemption …
There were many proposals in the House and Senate tax reform bills that could have affected small §501(c)(3) nonprofit clients, and now that the dust has cleared and the bill has become law, here are the main changes that could affect Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta clients. Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts 2017
Are you considering conducting commercial type activities – maybe a thrift store or a coffee shop, or selling goods or services of some kind? The IRS has developed short podcasts on various subjects to educate its employees and has made these podcasts available to the public. This podcast explains how the IRS evaluates commercial type …
When you applied for 501(c)(3) status for your organization, you had to tell the IRS what charitable services you were going to provide, whom you would serve and whether you planned to charge fees (which had to be reasonable). The IRS granted 501(c)(3) status to your organization based on that information. Now in the age …
There are four constitutional amendments on the November 8th ballot here in Georgia, including one addressing state intervention in public schools found to be “chronically failing” and another proposing to generate revenue for the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund. If your organization is urging the public to vote yes or no on any …
The new buzz word in the nonprofit §501(c)(3) sector seems to be “self-sustaining.” Boards, foundations, and other stakeholders are asking how nonprofit §501(c)(3)’s can generate income and become self-sustaining. The goal of this webcast is to help nonprofits understand the potential risks of selling goods or services and to provide insights into options for doing …
In 1982, Paul Newman founded Newman’s Own, a for-profit corporation created to sell food products and donate 100% of the profits to charity. What started as a boutique operation has grown into an international business with over $350 million in revenues. Many people consider Paul Newman to be one of the original pioneers in the …
In today’s competitive environment, Charitable Organizations are engaging in commercial activities with increasing frequency. Often these activities involve the sale of products or services to the public. Whether these activities are specifically related to an organization’s mission or not, there are a variety of legal and compliance issues that arise and require management. This webinar …
Does your nonprofit own real property? Does it plan to purchase real property (or hope to have it donated)? If so, don’t assume that your nonprofit will not have to pay property tax. Real property owned by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization in Georgia is not automatically exempt from property tax. The property must qualify …
The legal staff at the Packard Foundation, Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation and Moore Foundation developed this free resource, which covers the basic legal rules around the electioneering prohibition for both private foundations and public charities. It takes about ninety minutes to complete and features “Maya,” a program officer that helps participants through the course. Please …
Corporate donations are a fantastic way for nonprofits to raise funds, but nonprofits must proceed with caution when receiving a corporate donation with “strings” attached because the income could be taxable. The donation could be a either a corporate sponsorship or advertising income, depending on how the donor is recognized and what the donor receives …
Does your organization have a particular interest in how politicians vote on proposed laws? Are there certain politicians you feel better represent your organization’s interests over others? One way organizations can make their members or followers aware of how politicians are voting on select issues of importance is to distribute legislative scorecards. Legislative scorecards are …
Starting January 2014, changes to the rules for lobbyists in Georgia will go into effect and nonprofits that lobby should pay attention as the fines for noncompliance are significant. Even if your employees, contractors and volunteers have not had to register as lobbyists in the past, the updated law may require them to register. The …
Does your nonprofit own real property? Does it plan to purchase real property (or hope to have it donated)? If so, don’t assume that your nonprofit will not have to pay property tax. Real property owned by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization in Georgia is not automatically exempt from property tax. The property must qualify …
Payroll tax mistakes can result in IRS audits and costly penalties for your nonprofit. The IRS is paying more and more attention to payroll tax compliance by employers, including nonprofits. To make matters worse, nonprofit managers and directors can be held personally liable for unpaid payroll taxes and penalties. Learn the basics of payroll taxes …
Have you ever shopped at a store or eaten at a restaurant that was operated by a nonprofit? Many organizations that have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status conduct such commercial business activities in order to provide training opportunities for clients and make money for their ongoing programming. Such organizations do not have to any pay Federal income …
The U.S. Tax Court recently ruled that an individual who had donated over $22,000 to his church could not take a tax deduction for the contribution because the church had not sent the donor the proper acknowledgment. According to the IRS, 501(c)(3) organizations must send a contemporaneous written acknowledgment to donors of over $250 stating: …
In case you haven’t noticed the activity under the gold dome, the Georgia State Legislature is in session. You might be wondering what your nonprofit organization can do to influence the legislature. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status should be familiar with the IRS restrictions on their lobbying activities (and the lack of restrictions on advocacy). …
Unlike many other states, the State of Georgia does not grant a blanket exemption from sales and use tax to Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. In order to be exempt from paying tax on goods that are purchased or sold by the organization, the organization or the transaction must fit one of the specific, narrow exceptions …
Unlike some states, Georgia does not provide a general exemption from the payment of state sales and use tax for nonprofit organizations. To be exempt from Georgia state sales and use tax, a nonprofit must fit into a specific exemption category. This article describes some of the exemptions that may apply to nonprofit organizations.
Form 990 is the annual tax information return that 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS each year. Even organizations that have not yet filed for 501(c)(3) status but intend to do so, or that have filed for 501(c)(3) status but have not yet received it, are required to file some version of the …