# 501(c)3 tax status

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/501-c-3-tax-status/187039>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 8, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/501-c-3-tax-status/187039 "2003-07-08T17:11:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/501-c-3-tax-status/187039/1 "2003-07-08T17:11:31Z")

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Can anyone explain (US) 501©3 tax status to me? I know it is applicable to non-profit organizations, but what are the exact requirements for said status and are there any special circumstances for environmental groups?

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/501-c-3-tax-status/187039/2 "2003-07-08T17:40:23Z")

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I should add… if anyone can explain 501©4 to me too, that would be great…

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/501-c-3-tax-status/187039/3 "2003-07-08T18:40:52Z")

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Ask and ye shall receive…[here](http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96099,00.html) you go!

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**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/501-c-3-tax-status/187039/4 "2003-07-08T20:36:10Z")

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Start here:

[http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96099,00.html](http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96099,00.html)

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**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/501-c-3-tax-status/187039/5 "2003-07-08T20:46:44Z")

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Whoa, weird. Sorry about the double link.

Lesson of the day for me: hit refresh before posting after sitting on a thread for a while.