Application for Recognition of Exemption 501(c)(3) form

[Guest Anonymous]

I am in the process of forming a no-kill, non-profit dog rescue (small) in a rural area of Hillsborough County, Florida, about 30 miles east of Tampa. In filling out the IRS' Application for Recognition of Exemption, form 501(c)(3), I've come up against a couple of rough spots that I need help with. Is there anyone out there that has filled out this form and could lend a hand? I don't want to have it returned for something simple as I understand that could make it take a lot longer to ever get through the government. Thanks!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: lori hoffman on 2002-03-22 13:09 ]</font>

[Guest Anonymous]

Hi!

I'm a lawyer and I have not looked at the tax code since the bar exam 13 years ago. However, I have spent 13 years with a large law firm that had a tax dept. We also, like all the other lawyers in our county bar association, had to donate a certain amount of time to the bar Assn's Volunteer Legal Services Project, and I was the liason for our firm. This is generally a project that refers indigent people (or non-profit charity groups) to a local atty to give free legal advice - no fee. We once incorporated a charitable group free of charge under the program. The client still has to pay the court costs, filing fees, etc., but no atty's fees.

Before you do everything yourself and guess, call your local bar assn. They may be able to make such a referral. Everyone always waits to get a lawyer until after the paperwork is done - when it's too late.

One more thing - you may have a lawyer or accountant in the community who is an animal addict who would be willing to sit on your board. You'd be amazed how many thousands of $ of free services you can get that way. For example, my husband is an employment lawyer and sits on the board of our local Mobile Meals. He has had to rewrite their whole employee handbook in response to some changes in the law. Now he has to do it again for HIPAA. If he wasn't there, they'd be hiring someone, or he'd be getting paid if they were hiring him. Instead it's all free.

Hope this helps.

[Guest Anonymous]

Good for you! I hope it all works out!