MAGNOLIA

CLIPPING SERVICE
(601) 856-0911 I (205) 758-8610
MISSISSIPPI PRESS
PASCAGOULA, MS

Circulation =21038

DAILY

09/05/2010
1111111111111111111111111111111111111

Thousands of state
I

ch.wDities may lose

tax-exempt status

~ Most are small, organizations, including

many service clubs, foun­
community-based dations and faith-based
ministries.
organizations, "This is potentially the
including many biggest threat to the exist
ence of small charities
service clubs, that has ever occurred,"
said Bill Moak, president
foundations and of the Better Business Bu
faith-based reau (BBB) Serving Mis­
sissippi:"'" ­
ministries The BBB maintains
standards for charitable
Submitted by Better accountability and evalu­
Business Bureau ates charities against
those standards.
More than 2,800 Missis­ "It's important that
sippi charities are at risk charities file their return~
of losing their tax-exempt· to avoid loss of their tax I
status if they don't file tax exemption," Moak said. I
returns by Oct. 15 under a The IRS has issued a
new pro­ "One-Time Fil­
gram an­ "This is potentially ing Relief,"
nounced the biggest threat which gives '
recently to the existence of tended charities an e~
by the time t~
Internal small charities that file returns to
Revenue has ever avoid loss of
Service tax-exempt st.
(IRS). occurred." tus. After Oct.
Accor - Bill Moak, president 15, the IRS wi
ding to ofthe Better Business automatically
the IRS, Bureau Serving revoke tax­
2,824 Mississippi exempt statu
charities for the organi
named in a special list ation and will publish a
must file returns by Oct. list of those organization
15 or they will automat­ in early 2011.
ically lose their status as Donors who give to
tax-exempt organizations, those organizations will
a development which be protected until the lis
could cripple future fund­ is published, meaning
raising efforts and entail that they may still deduc
possible tax liability. contributions made be­
The list includes orga­ fore publication of the
nizations, which have not list.
filed returns for the past The list of at-risk orga­
three years. Most are nizations may be viewed
small, community-based at www.irs.gov/pubj
irs-tege/ms.pdf. The IRS
has information about
this issue on its website
at www-irs.gov/charities/
article/
0"id=22S 70S,00.html.