Not necessary to apply for 501c3
July 1, 1998
Q. Does our church need to apply for a 501c3 tax status as a charitable organization?A. No, any organization which identifies itself as a church or religious congregation and which meets the simple test of holding worship services is automatically considered to be the equivalent of a charitable organization, says Rev. Ralph Mero, the Unitarian Universalist Association's director of Church Staff Finances. Contributions are deductible from the donor's taxable income if no tangible benefit of monetary value has been received. Few churches apply for 501c3 status unless they need documentation of their charitable status in order to apply for and receive grants from foundations.
For more information contact interconnections @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
