1.501(h)-2. Electing the expenditure test
(a) In general. --The election to be governed by section 501(h)
may be made by an eligible organization (as described in paragraph
(b) of this section) for any taxable year of the organization
beginning after December 31, 1976, other than the first taxable
year for which a voluntary revocation of the election is effective
(see paragraph (d) of this section). The election is made by
filing a completed Form 5768, Election/Revocation of Election
by an Eligible Section 501(c)(3) Organization to Make Expenditures
to Influence Legislation, with the appropriate Internal Revenue
Service Center listed on that form. Under section 501(h)(6),
the election is effective with the beginning of the taxable
year in which the form is filed. For example, if an eligible
organization whose taxable year is the calendar year files Form
5768 on December 31, 1979, the organization is governed by section
501(h) for its taxable year beginning January 1, 1979. Once
made, the expenditure test election is effective (without again
filing Form 5768) for each succeeding taxable year for which
the organization is an eligible organization and which begins
before a notice of revocation is filed under paragraph (d) of
this section.
(b) Organizations eligible to elect the expenditure
test
(1) In general. --For purposes of section 501(h)
and the regulations thereunder, an organization is an eligible
organization for a taxable year if, for that taxable year, it
is --
(i) Described in section 501(c)(3) (determined,
in any year for which an election is in effect, without regard
to the substantial part test of section 501(c)(3)),
(ii) Described in section 501(h)(4) and paragraph
(b)(2) of this section, and
(iii) Not a disqualified organization described
in section 501(h)(5) and paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(2) Certain organizations listed. --An organization
is described in section 501(h)(4) and this paragraph (b)(2)
if it is an organization described in --
(i) Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) (relating to educational
institutions),
(ii) Section 170(b)(1)(A)(iii) (relating to
hospitals and medical research organizations),
(iii) Section 170(b)(1)(A)(iv) (relating to
organizations supporting government schools),
(iv) Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (relating to organizations
publicly supported by charitable contributions),
(v) Section 509(a)(2) (relating to organizations
publicly supported by admissions, sales, etc.), or
(vi) Section 509(a)(3) (relating to organizations
supporting public charities), except that for purposes of this
paragraph (b)(2), section 509(a)(3) shall be applied without
regard to the last sentence of section 509(a).
(3) Disqualified organizations. --An organization
is a disqualified organization described in section 501(h)(5)
and this paragraph (b)(3) if the organization is --
(i) Described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(i) (relating
to churches),
(ii) An integrated auxiliary of a church or
of a convention or association of churches (see §1.6033-2(g)(5)),
or
(iii) Described in section 501(c)(3) and affiliated
(within the meaning of §56.4911-7) with one or more organizations
described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) or (ii) of this section.
(4) Other organizations ineligible to elect.
--Under section 501(h)(4), certain organizations, although not
disqualified organizations, are not eligible to elect the expenditure
test. For example, organizations described in section 509(a)(4)
are not listed in section 501(h)(4) and therefore are not eligible
to elect. Similarly, private foundations (within the meaning
of section 509(a)) are not eligible to elect. For the treatment
of expenditures by a private foundation for the purpose of carrying
on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation,
see §53.4945-2.
(c) New organizations. --A newly created organization
may submit Form 5768 to elect the expenditure test under section
501(h) before it is determined to be an eligible organization
and may submit Form 5768 at the time it submits its application
for recognition of exemption (Form 1023). If the newly created
organization is determined to be an eligible organization, the
election will be effective under the provisions of paragraph
(a) of this section, that is, with the beginning of the taxable
year in which the Form 5768 is filed by the eligible organization.
However, if a newly created organization is determined by the
Service not to be an eligible organization, the organization's
election will not be effective and the substantial part test
will apply from the effective date of its section 501(c)(3)
classification.
(d) Voluntary revocation of expenditure test
election
(1) Revocation effective. --An organization
may voluntarily revoke an expenditure test election by filing
a notice of voluntary revocation with the appropriate Internal
Revenue Service Center listed on Form 5768. Under section 501(h)(6)(B),
a voluntary revocation is effective with the beginning of the
first taxable year after the taxable year in which the notice
is filed. If an organization voluntarily revokes its election,
the substantial part test of section 501(c)(3) will apply with
respect to the organization's activities in attempting to influence
legislation beginning with the taxable year for which the voluntary
revocation is effective.
(2) Re-election of expenditure test. --If an
organization's expenditure test election is voluntarily revoked,
the organization may again make the expenditure test election,
effective no earlier than for the taxable year following the
first taxable year for which the revocation is effective.
(3) Example. --X, an organization whose taxable
year is the calendar year, plans to voluntarily revoke its expenditure
test election effective beginning with its taxable year 1985.
X must file its notice of voluntary revocation on Form 5768
after December 31, 1983, and before January 1, 1985. If X files
a notice of voluntary revocation on December 31, 1984, the revocation
is effective beginning with its taxable year 1985. The organization
may again elect the expenditure test by filing Form 5768. Under
paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the election may not be made
for taxable year 1985. Under paragraph (a) of this section,
a new expenditure test election will be effective for taxable
years beginning with taxable year 1986, if the Form 5768 is
filed after December 31, 1985, and before January 1, 1987.
(e) Involuntary revocation of expenditure test
election. --If, while an election by an eligible organization
is in effect, the organization ceases to be an eligible organization,
its election is automatically revoked. The revocation is effective
with the beginning of the first full taxable year for which
it is determined that the organization is not an eligible organization.
If an organization's expenditure test election is involuntarily
revoked under this paragraph (e) but the organization continues
to be described in section 501(c)(3), the substantial part test
of section 501(c)(3) will apply with respect to the organization's
activities in attempting to influence legislation beginning
with the first taxable year for which the involuntary revocation
is effective.
(f) Supersession. --This section supersedes
§7.0(c)(4) of the Temporary Income Tax Regulations under
the Tax Reform Act of 1976, effective August 31, 1990. [Reg.
§1.501(h)-2.]
Presented by Alvin Brown and Associates,
tax attorney, formerly with the Office of the Chief Counsel of the
IRS.
Call us for all IRS tax issues, problems and emergencies
Protect yourself from IRS intimidation, errors, and penalties.
www.irstaxattorney.com- ab@irstaxattorney.com -
(888)
712-7690 - (703) 425-1400